Drug Crimes

Can I be charged with possession of a controlled substance because I have an illegal drug in my blood stream? Classic lawyer answer: it depends. However, a recent Ohio Supreme Court case, State v. Forman, 2021-Ohio-3409, made it clear that the mere presence of a drug...

Potentially, yes. If you do not have permission to be driving the vehicle, then you are committing a crime and can be arrested. However, a recent United States Supreme Court case held that even if you have permission to drive someone else's vehicle, it is possible...

The short answer is yes; however, under the Ohio and United States Constitutions, a police officer's belief that a traffic violation occurred must be "objectively reasonable."When a judge examines whether a traffic stop is legal under the Ohio and United States...

As of July 30, 2019, hemp became legal in the State of Ohio. The difference between marijuana and hemp could be an important legal defense in drug trafficking and drug possession cases.What is hemp? Like marijuana, hemp is a species of cannabis but has different...

This month, City Council voted to decriminalize marijuana possession in Cincinnati for individuals who possess up to 100 grams. But does this mean people can light up a joint within the city limits? Not so fast.Possession Remains an Offense in Ohio Revised CodeFirst,...

State regulators have scheduled a final inspection of 525 Genntown Drive in Lebanon this week as part of the final step towards About Wellness Ohio obtaining the certificate of operation needed to run the facility. If the dispensary passes inspection it could open...

Last week, the 12th District Court of Appeals in State v. Woodard, 2017-Ohio-6914 held that drug possession charges based upon the simultaneous possession of two or more controlled substances are not allied offenses of similar import. Essentially, allied offenses of...

Drug offenses under Ohio law, such as possession or trafficking, can vary depending on the weight or the amount of drug involved. All illegal drugs, whether they are prescription or street drugs, have a baseline level of offense that can increase depending on the...

In an update to a previous blog post, the Ohio Supreme Court has decided a case that has drastic implications for how the weight of drugs, and specifically cocaine, is determined. In State v. Gonzales, the Court held that the State must prove the weight of the actual...

Ohio has modified its laws in an attempt to save lives as part in light of the state’s worsening opioid and heroin overdose epidemic. The Good Samaritan Law prevents overdose victims and those calling for aid from being charged criminally for minor drug possession...