synthetic drugs Archives

Marijuana with Fentanyl Awareness

If you consume cannabis flower, then you should be aware of common opioid overdose symptoms. Opioid overdose? But marijuana does not contain opioids?! True. There have been dozens of reports, however, from Connecticut since July 2021 involving patients who exhibited opioid overdose symptoms and required naloxone, a medication that rapidly reverses an overdose, for revival. The patients all denied any opioid use and admitted to only smoking marijuana. A recent lab test confirmed marijuana seized in that state tested positive for fentanyl. It may be the first reported lab confirmation in the United States. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid […]

Immunity From Drug Prosecutions Under Iowa’s Good Samaritan Law

If you witness a drug overdose, then Iowa’s Good Samaritan Law will protect you if you call 911 for medical assistance. That’s right. The law provides full immunity for certain Chapter 124 drug charges including: Delivery of a controlled substance, if not done for profit (124.401); Simple possession (124.401(5)); Gatherings (124.407); and Drug paraphernalia (124.414). Generally, you cannot be arrested, charged or prosecuted for these crimes when you remain on the scene, call for medical assistance and provide your contact information to and cooperate with medical personnel. Calling 911 should not affect your probation or parole status either. This applies […]

Postal Service “Profile” for Mailed Drug Packages

Did you know the postal inspector examines hundreds of suspicious packages each week at the Des Moines mail processing center for narcotics and drug proceeds? What factors make some packages stand out from others? Here are the top 5: Fictitious name, address or telephone number. People who ship narcotics often provide fake information to avoid detection if the package is traced. It might be a fictitious name for the return label. Perhaps the return address isn’t associated with the sender’s name or simply doesn’t exist. The packing slip may provide a disconnected phone number or none at all. While the […]

Snitch Beats Rap After Task Force FUBAR

On February 17, 2021 the Iowa Court of Appeals in State v. Tucker dismissed felony drug charges against an informant who upheld her end of a task force proffer. Although both the factual and procedural histories are long and winding, the issue on appeal was fairly straightforward. Should the court enforce a plea agreement against the State when the informant does what the prosecutor specifically asked as part of the plea agreement? Here, the informant faced 40 years in prison for methamphetamine and heroin possession. She made a proffer to the task force and agreed to testify against another party […]