Officer, Those Drugs Are For My Personal Use. Really!
Can you beat a drug charge by claiming personal use? There's no bright line, says Pierce County, Washington attorney Spencer Freeman—it turns on circumstances. Prosecutors look for a scale, baggies, or buyer-witnesses suggesting sales. Buying a large amount for personal use is possible, but the burden's on the defendant to prove it—and a pound of cocaine is a hard sell.
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Answered by Spencer Freeman · Pierce County, WA
Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you beat a drug charge by claiming personal use?
There's no bright line—it turns on circumstances, and prosecutors look for a scale, baggies, or buyer-witnesses suggesting sales.
What undercuts a personal-use claim?
Scales and baggies—buying a large amount for personal use is possible, but the burden's on the defendant to prove it, and a pound of cocaine is a hard sell.
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