Drug Crimes

Why Am I Being Charged with a Federal Drug Crime?

Published: Sep 18, 2017 in Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes

Drug crime investigations and arrests take up a large portion of Texas law enforcement resources each year. The court system in Texas is bombarded with cases that result in drug convictions and the associated legal penalties that follow. The state imposes a range of penalties for drug crimes that include heavy fines, prison time, probation, and mandated community service. Some drug cases, however, are more likely to be charged at the federal level. Whether or not the drug offense for which you are arrested is charged as a state or…

Texas Lawmakers Hope to Reduce Penalties for Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana in 2017

Published: Feb 10, 2017 in Drug Crimes

Recreational and medical marijuana have gradually become more accepted and common around the country. However, in Texas, many legislators and residents still take a harsh view on the drug. Texas currently allows extremely limited medical marijuana, while recreational use is entirely prohibited. As marijuana remains illegal for personal use, law enforcement must spend a great deal of time and funds on arresting low-level offenders. Ultimately, this leads to an unnecessarily heavy caseload for local criminal justice systems. In an attempt to lighten the load, Rep. Joe Moody, D-EL Paso, has…

Roadside Drug Test Kits are Prone to Error

Published: Jan 27, 2017 in Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes

A widely recognized organization known as the Innocence Project claims that anywhere between 40,000 and 100,000 innocent people are incarcerated in the United States. While the types of convictions for these prisoners vary, a significant number have been wrongfully accused of drug crimes. This is in large part due to the war on drugs, which has the goal of incarcerating as many people as possible. Aiding in this effort are faulty roadside drug test kits, which show false positives for a number of substances. Houston drug lawyer Ned Barnett knows…

Texans Serving Life Sentences for Drug Possession

Published: Dec 13, 2016 in Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes

The ACLU and Human Rights Watch recently released a report that assesses the human toll of criminalizing drug use and includes policy recommendations for local, state, and federal government officials. By examining arrest rates around the country, interviewing 365 inmates, and collecting data through public information requests, the report illuminates the human costs of the failed “war on drugs.” The report discusses the wide-ranging consequences of harsh drug laws across the United States, but focuses specifically on Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and New York. Drug Possession Statistics in the United States…

Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

Published: Dec 05, 2016 in Criminal Defense, Drug Crimes

State Representative Joe Moody of El Paso introduced a bill to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana on the first day of the pre-filing period for the upcoming 2017 legislative session. The legislative proposal, HB 81, is just one of several attempts by Texas lawmakers to enact marijuana reform. Rep. Moody introduced similar legislation in the last legislative session, which drew the support of more than 40 co-sponsors, gained a powerful ally in the Texas Association of Business, and made it out of the Calendars Committee. On average,…