What is drug paraphernalia?

Many of the posts on this Arkansas-based criminal defense blog focus on the severe and life-altering criminal charges that individuals can face when they are found to be in the possession of drugs. Whether they are found to simply have drugs or are charged with selling or distributing them, an individual’s life can change quickly due to their pending charges. This post introduces a related topic that readers may not know much about in the realm of drug charges, and that is possessing paraphernalia.

Drug paraphernalia is gear or equipment that an individual may use to take, contain, prepare or hide an illegal drug. It can be illegal to own or possess drug paraphernalia, but arrests based on this alleged crime are often wrought with problems, as there is extensive gray area in what should and does constitute paraphernalia.

For example, a person may legally buy a pipe with which to smoke tobacco, a legal substance that adults in the United States may purchase. However, pipes are also sold that are intended to be used to smoke marijuana and other illegal drugs. An arresting officer may confuse a tobacco pipe with a marijuana pipe, thus causing the wrong identification of alleged drug paraphernalia and a wrongful arrest of an innocent person.

A person may face a drug charge without even being found to have drugs on their person. Accusations of possessing drug paraphernalia can be damaging to individuals’ reputations and can alter their futures. Legal support and defense strategies for overcoming drug paraphernalia charges can be discussed with readers’ trusted legal advisors.