Posts tagged "drug possession"

Our Waukegan readers have probably already heard of the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington, expanding upon the medical marijuana statutes already in place. The two states are the first to take such a step, but it remains to be seen how things will play out.

Marijuana, after all, is still illegal under federal law, even for medical purposes. And there is also the issue of dealing with driving while under the influence of marijuana and other social problems that could result. This is undoubtedly why Illinois lawmakers have been hesitant to move in the direction of legalization.

Lake County residents who have never known someone who struggled with a chemical dependency problem might assume that anyone who has an addiction to drugs must also be associated with committing serious drug crimes such as drug trafficking or drug distribution. However, this is simply not true. A drug problem may begin when an adult is prescribed a strong pain medication after a surgery. Or perhaps a teen decides to try drugs to cope with depression.

An addiction to drugs can cause people to make poor decisions out of desperation that they would have never contemplated when sober. An individual might steal prescription drugs from a family member or purchase large quantities of drugs off of the street to ensure that one has a large enough supply for personal use. But when individuals are caught in possession of large quantities of drugs, they could face a lengthy prison sentence, even if the drugs are meant for their personal use.

Last week, a 31-year-old Round Lake Park man pleaded not guilty to drug possession charges after police found large quantities of heroin and Ecstasy in his home. The man was charged with the criminal offenses after emergency responders were called to his home in January for a possible drug overdose. While helping the man get the medical attention he needed, some responders reported that they found bottles of heroin and Ecstasy in the home.

The rapper T.I. was taken back into custody by the Federal Bureau of Prisons after he reportedly rode in a luxury rap tour bus from a federal prison to a halfway house where he was to serve the last month of his prison sentence. He may have to remain jailed until his official release date of September 29.

T.I. was sent to prison last fall to serve an eleven-month suspended prison sentence that he had been given after being convicted of federal weapons charges. T. I. had been allowed to participate in an experiment that suspended the sentence if he paid a fine and did community service while on house arrest. T.I. was charged with violating that probation, however, and sent to serve his sentence in prison.

The probation violations stemmed from a traffic stop during which police officers found T.I. in possession of ecstasy. T. I. also tested positive for opiates after his arrest. He had also been in the car with a convicted felon, which was a violation of his parole.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy released recommendations earlier this month for changes in governments' approach to illegal drugs. The panel said that the "war on drugs" approach is not reducing the number of people using drugs but, instead, is creating a market for drug cartels and leading to violence across the world. The panel said that legalizing or decriminalizing some drugs might lead to less drug violence and more drug regulation.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said that he did not agree with the recommendations. Calderon initiated a crackdown in 2006 against Mexico's drug cartels. Since 2006, 38,000 people have died in the fighting. The U.S. supports Mexico in the drug war and the Obama Administration also said that they did not believe in legalization of any drugs. They have supported drug courts so that people who possess illegal drugs or commit crimes because they are suffering from addiction can get the treatment that they need.