Drug Paraphernalia

The cops stop your vehicle and find drug paraphernalia inside. What should you do?

Call New Hampshire criminal defense attorney Michael Anzalone before you do anything else.

It’s vital that you have a lawyer experienced in defending drug crimes by your side immediately after your arrest. He will advise you against speaking with police officers or investigators without having a legal representative by your side.

That’s because you probably aren’t well-versed in the laws and how police officers can try to use anything you say or do after your arrest against you.

So, call Michael Anzalone in Nashua, New Hampshire, right ways.

Police officers and prosecutors work hand-in-hand in New Hampshire to crack down on the illegal drug trade. And drug paraphernalia is considered a big part of that.

Drug paraphernalia is defined in the state’s statutes, RSA 318-B:1. Michael Anzalone urges you to become familiar with the state’s laws so you can be heavily involved in your case.

Here’s how the state defines drug paraphernalia:

"Drug paraphernalia" means all equipment, products and materials of any kind which are used or intended for use or customarily intended for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance in violation of this chapter.

This includes any kits; isomerization devices; testing equipment; scales and balances; dilutents and adulterants; separation gins and sifters; blenders, bowls, envelopes and other containers; capsules and balloons; pipes and anything else considered “paraphernalia.”

Quite simply, it’s illegal in New Hampshire it is illegal to possess any of these items for the use of possessing, manufacturing or distributing drugs or drug paraphernalia.

A conviction on drug paraphernalia charges is punishable by up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. However, for someone who is 15 to 18 years old, a conviction may include a driver’s license suspension of between 90 days and one year.

These are considered serious charges. And, again depending on the circumstances of your case, it could be tried either on the state level or in federal court. Federal penalties can be even harsher. In some cases, especially if you are also accused of other drug-related crimes, you could be looking at possible lengthy sentences to federal prison.

Criminal defense lawyer Michael Anzalone advises everyone against getting involved in a drug lifestyle. But if you do get arrested on drug charges, remember that at The Anzalone Law Firm, our goal is to get the very best possible outcome in your case.

Remember that in New Hampshire, law enforcement officers often take paraphernalia they find in vehicles they stop _ including razor blades or crack pipes _ can be used as evidence to bring more charges, such as drug possession, or, depending on what they find, intent to sell.

At any rate, if you’ve been charged with a drug crime, you should contact The Anzalone Law Firm for a free consultation with Michael Anzalone.