Bethesda Drug Paraphernalia Lawyer

Drug paraphernalia can be defined as anything that is used with respect to the inhaling, ingestion, and use of any controlled dangerous substance.

If you are facing any sort of drug offense because of drug paraphernalia, it is important to consult with a Bethesda drug lawyer as soon as possible. A drug paraphernalia attorney in Bethesda can build a defense to help lessen or dismiss any penalties you may be facing.

Examples of Paraphernalia

The most common types of drug paraphernalia are a smoking device, a needle, syringe, or something of that nature. Drug paraphernalia can also include a scale to weigh out the drugs or a container like a plastic baggie or small pen where someone might store their drugs.

Paraphernalia can include things that are commonly believed to be drug-related and other things which could otherwise be considered innocuous. A Bethesda drug paraphernalia attorney can help an individual determine what qualifies as paraphernalia.

Potential Penalties

The most typical penalty a person faces in Bethesda with respect to possession of drug paraphernalia is a fine. Drug paraphernalia possession carries a maximum fine of $500. That is the worst-case scenario when it comes to a possession of paraphernalia charge.

To lessen or get rid of the drug paraphernalia penalties, a drug paraphernalia attorney in Bethesda can allocute to a judge the reasons why a reduction in the fine is appropriate based on a person’s age, lack of criminal history, or lack of income. These can be strong arguments as to why the amount of the fine should be reduced or eliminated.

Additional Factors

Paraphernalia is paraphernalia no matter what kind of a drug it is associated with. However, if there are traces of a drug found on the paraphernalia, that could prompt the courts to charge somebody with possession of the controlled dangerous substance as opposed to just paraphernalia.

The way in which the laws in Maryland are written, even traces of a drug on paraphernalia are enough to qualify as possession of that drug.
It is important to recognize that somebody in possession of a syringe used for heroin could face more serious charges than somebody with a small tin used to store marijuana. Such charges can be best combatted using a Bethesda drug paraphernalia lawyer.

Discovery Process

A police officer usually discovers drug paraphernalia in much the same way that any other drugs are discovered. The drug paraphernalia attorney in Bethesda can always question whether a proper search was conducted.

Drug paraphernalia is associated with the drug recovered by officers. When someone is in possession of a drug, they can also be charged with a companion offense of paraphernalia for whatever accompanied the drug. That might be a baggie to store the drug, a smoking device, or a device used to ingest into the body a substance affiliated with drugs found.

Rights of an Individual

A person caught with paraphernalia in Bethesda has the same rights as anyone else in any other criminal case. They have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. A person should make sure that they invoke those rights and respectfully let any officer know when they are charged with paraphernalia that they do not wish to have a conversation with respect to those charges unless there is a Bethesda drug paraphernalia attorney present.

With respect to paraphernalia in the Bethesda criminal system, a person is treated in the same way as anyone else with a misdemeanor offense. The only exception is that a person in possession of paraphernalia can only be fined a maximum $500 instead of being incarcerated.