I have a Q about mj laws

[WindRavenX]

I'm in MA (Boston College), and every night I go for a stroll just off campus to have a bowl.
On the way home one night, with my glass pipe in my purse, I wondered that if I was searched by the popo, what could I get charged for?

I didn't have any mj on me, and the only thing left in my pipe was ash and resin. Could they still charge me for possession? Public intoxication?

Any ideas?

Thanks :hi:

[MercutioATC]

1. Possession of drug paraphernalia.

...assuming that MA has drug laws like most other states.

[WindRavenX]

3. that's less serious, right?

I still can't get my head around the fact that people go to fucking jail for having a pipe.

fuck, that's just wrong.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. I looked it up.

Paraphernalia, manufacture, possession or sale is a felony, punishable by 1 - 2 years, $500 - $5,000 fine. For first time offenders, the court will sentence the offender to probation and upon successful completion of the probation period, the offender's record will be sealed. For subsequent offenses, probation may still be possible.

[MercutioATC]

8. Have a link for that?

I can't believe paraphernalia and simple possession are felonies...even in MA.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Here's the link from NORML.

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4543&wtm_view=penalties

[MercutioATC]

15. Damn! I stand corrected. The People's Republic of Massachusetts has

outdone itself.

It's a freakin' FELONY to possess drug paraphenalia...

:crazy:

[WindRavenX]

18. oh.fuck

a fucking FELONY ? Fuck, isn't murder less than that in some cases?

[MercutioATC]

21. There are degrees of felony crime.

Murder would certainly be of a higher degree (legally) than this.

But yes, it appears as if it's a felony in MA.

Don't get caught.

[MercutioATC]

7. Probably a minor or 4th-degree misdemeanor.

I'd have to look it up to be certain.

(BTW, that's the same as possession)

[46and2]

2. Hopefully

they'll throw the book at you once they see your Yankee paraphenalia...

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. Probably just possession of paraphenalia.

Some cops won't even charge you. They make break your bowl in front of you though. That's happened to a few of my friends.

[femmocrat]

6. Sorry to sound like an old fogey, but....

why would you even risk your future by walking around campus with drug paraphernalia?

Sooner or later you are going to get caught!

[WindRavenX]

11. it won't ruin my future

I won't do anything that would land my ass in jail.

[K-W]

23. The vast majority of college users do not get caught.

At least at the colleges ive been to. And often universities will simply confiscate paraphenalia and not bring law enforcement into the picture.

[TomInTib]

9. First, they must have probable cause to search your purse.

Unless they witness you smoking your pipe, they have no cause to search you.

Always ask them why are they wanting to search you.

If they say they saw you smoking, ask where.

Unless they have it pegged, refuse the request or demand a warrant.

[WindRavenX]

10. I have no idea how to act around cops

Hypothetically speaking, that is. They scare me, a lot.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. I once had a cop DRIVING my car

with a significant amount of several illegal substances on the front passenger seat. It was both the funniest and scariest experience of my life. Just act normal.

[WindRavenX]

14. oo, can you share that story?

Sounds interesting.


And I don't think I would be able to "act normal" around cops-- I shake.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. I used to have a shitty Mercury Sable.

It was an old car, just a shitty car. Anyway, it had the really fun habit of just dying random places, when it had been working fine 10 minutes prior. So, I had just picked up a decent amount of stuff (sideline buisness that I quit due to the risks) and my car fucking dies on an Rt. 80 overpass about a mile away from my mom's house and a block away from the police station. A cop drives by and sees my dead car blocking the overpass. He stops and tells me that it has to get off the road, and if I'm not comfortable doing it, he'll roll my car backwards around the hill and into the driveway of the electrical substation. I said yes, because I knew I couldn't manuver the car like that. So I have a cop driving my car, with a box of pepperidge farm cookies being used as a stash box next to him.

So anyway, he gets the car into the driveway and gives me a ride to my mom's house. I got there and immediately went back in my grandma's car and got my shit. Then, I called up to get my car towed once again.

I'm so glad I don't have it anymore. That car indirectly led to my arrest once, too, but that was for parking tickets.

[WindRavenX]

20. if that happened to me...

...I'd shit myself.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

22. My life is a series of absurd events...

so I just viewed this as yet another one.

[TomInTib]

17. Never "act" around cops. Be yourself.

You are a smart young lady and have nothing to be scared about.

Unless you have warrants or act like an ass, I seriously doubt you will even be cited for mere possession of a glass pipe.

Be careful if you have a one-htter, one of those straight kind of pipes (like I use). Cops tend to think those are crack pipes. Tell them to smell it.

Don't lose any sleep over this, WindRavenX.

And just be cool. Hell, that's about the easiest thing in the world to do.

[K-W]

24. I have to disagree with the earlier poster.

The last thing in the world you want to do is get into a discussion with a cop about drugs. They engage you in conversation to try and get you to slip up and so they can examine you for evidence.

If a police officer attempts to stop you, casually keep moving and say that you are late for an appointment or date or something. Do not freely consent to be questioned. If he insists that you stop, do so, make it clear that you do not consent, share as little information as possible and move on as soon as you can.

If however a cop does detain you, does insist on searching you etc, never resist. Very clearly state that you do not consent to the search and let your lawyer do the talking in court.

Most people who get busted do so because they allow cops to engage them until the cops can find a reason to conduct a search.

[WindRavenX]

16. wtf are "state tax stamps" for mj?

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4543&wtm_view=taxstamps

:wtf:

[Dark]

25. Some states are tired of missing out on the revenue generated on the

black market. So, they passed a law that puts a tax on marijuana. Dealers can get additional charges if they don't furnish proof that they paid the taxes.

Sends the wrong message, dontcha think?

[WindRavenX]

26. that's...utterly, utterly retarded.

...

[droidamus2]

27. 1937 Marijuana Tax Act

Actually this is passed down from good old Harry Anslinger and his 1937 Marijuana Tax act. This act put a $1.00 tax on marijuana (don't know for what amount) at a time when marijuana was not explicitly illegal. Doesn't sound too bad until you realize they made the paperwork so complicated and ridiculous that people wouldn't do it and then they were liable for large fines and up to 5 years in jail Again not for possession but for failure to pay taxes. The states must have carried it on from there.

[DrBloodmoney]

28. My unsolicited advice to anyone in a similar situation...

... only smoke joints when you are out of your house/apartment. They are concealable, combustible, and if need be, edible.

And stay away from cops. Remember, it is their job to put people who inhale the fumes of burning vegetation in cages.