Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Charges - VUCSA

The attorneys of Ashbach Law Offices, LLC have extensive successful history in representing clients charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Through our experience and legal knowledge, we are often able to achieve dismissals of charges, or suppression of evidence (leading to dismissals), as well as reduction of charges, saving mandatory jail time, treatment, and ability to obtain federal student loans. If you have been, or someone you care about has, been charged with a drug paraphernalia crime, call (360) 659-4950 today for a free, no-pressure consultation.

When most people talk about Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, they are really talking about the crime of Use of Drug Paraphernalia. The state law on Drug Paraphernalia outlaws the use of drug paraphernalia, not merely possession. Under the RCWs, Use of Drug Paraphernalia is a simple misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine. For first offenses, a conviction has a mandatory minimum of a day in jail with a $250 fine. Subsequent offenses have a mandatory minimum of a day in jail and a $500 fine. This is in addition to probation costs, treatment, and any other requirements the court may order.

Drug Paraphernalia charges, particularly with marijuana pipes, often accompany the charge of Possession of Marijuana, although any drug may be associated with drug paraphernalia.

The state statute, and court of appeal interpretations of it, indicate that simple possession of drug paraphernalia (particularly unused paraphernalia) is not necessarily a crime. As a result, many cities and municipalities have enacted as part of their own Municipal Code, a code making bare possession or drug paraphernalia (with intent to use it), a crime.

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

This means the theoretically, a glass of water could be considered drug paraphernalia if you do not have a prescription for the controlled substance, as could be a pill-cutter.

Ashbach Law Offices, LLC has significant history in successfully defending its clients who are charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia crimes throughout Snohomish County and Skagit County. If you, or someone you care about, has been charged with Possession of Paraphernalia (or any other drug crime) call us today at (360) 659-4950 for a free consultation. We practice actively in cities like Arlington, Edmonds, Everett, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Monroe, Mukilteo and Marysville, Washington.

"Drug Paraphernalia" is defined by RCW 69.50.102, it: "means all equipment, products, and materials of any kind which are used, intended for use, or designed for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance"

Back to more about drug crimes. Note, these are all VUCSA charges.