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Stacie Ascue
Mr. Phillips
Criminal Justice 1010
8 December 2015

Drugs
Drugs are another big factor that is a high concern and its getting
worse and worse with time as well. With a 3.4 billion budget and more than 5,500
special agents, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is one of the most
important law enforcement agencies in the country. The goal of the DEA is to
enforce domestic drug laws and regulations and to assist other federal and foreign
agencies in combating illegal drug manufacture and trade on an international level.
Hundreds of people have overdosed on fentanyl across the nation since
2013, often as a result of using heroin that has been laced with much stronger
substance. Marijuana is a very safe drug. Laboratory animals (rats, mice, dogs,
monkeys) can tolerate doses of up to 1,000 mg/kg. This would be equivalent to a 70
kg person swallowing 70 grams of the drug, about 5,000 times more than is
required to produce a high. It has not been proven that marijuana has caused any
deaths. Marijuana is known for being a gateway drug. On the other hand, an
overdose of cocaine may cause severe anxiety, panic, agitation, aggression,
sleeplessness, hallucinations, paranoid delusions, impaired judgment, tremors,
seizures, and delirium. Death results are from MI or arrhythmias. With severe
overdoses, it can cause a syndrome of acute psychosis, hypertension,
hyperthermia, coagulopathy, renal failure, and seizures. Possession of marijuana is
punishable up to one year in jail and a minimum fine of 1,000 for first conviction.
For the second conviction, the penalties increase to a 15 day mandatory minimum

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sentence with a maximum of two years in prison and a fine up to 2,500. The
sentencing varies from state to state. Most states have adopted a similar approach
to drug sentencing. These fixed sentences are based on the type of drug, the weight
of the drug and the number of prior convictions. For example, Kentucky gets 2- 10
years in prison and a fine of up to 20,000. Yet, California has some of the lightest
drug possession sentences that are between 30 and 500 in fines and/or 15 to 180
days in jail. Many states have instituted what are known as drug courts, programs
for felony drug defendants overseen by a judge that aim to rehabilitate the
defendant instead of taking the case to trial. Distribution of a small amount of
marijuana, for no remuneration, is treated as possession. Manufacture or
distribution of less than 50 plants or 50 kilograms of marijuana is punishable by up
to five years in prison and a fine of up to 250,000. For 50-99 plants or 50-99
kilograms the penalty increases not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of up to
1 million if an individual, 5 million if other than an individual for the first offense.
Manufacture or distribution of 100-999 plants or 100-999 kilograms carries a
penalty of 5 - 40 years in prison and a fine of 2-5 Million. For 1000 plants or 1000
kilograms or more, the penalty increases to 10 years, life in prison and a fine of 410 Million. Drugs have always been a problem, with people always using it. But
some people just dont realize that there are so many consequences that go along
with it. Its not all fun and games and getting caught and having something like that
on your permanent record, is just not even worth it.