08.Jun.2011 Synthetic Drug Ban Passes Senate Committee
Legislation that would criminalize specially designed drugs that are sold as “bath salts” and “potpourri” was given unanimous approval Tuesday, and is one step short of final passage by lawmakers. The Senate Judiciary B Committee advanced to the Senate floor House Bill 12 by Rep. Rickey Templet, R-Gretna. If approved there, it will go to [...]
07.Jun.2011 Fiction Writer Beware: Anything You Say May Be Used Against You
Photo Courtesy of Jeffness A work of fiction written by a person charged with a crime can be used against the author in court. So says a new decision from the Michigan Supreme Court, which holds that a story written by a defendant can be used as evidence of his or her intent to commit [...]
12.May.2011 New Bill Regulating Bath Salts and Synthetic Marijuana One Step Closer to Passage
House Bill 12 (click for full text) is one step close to passage. The Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice sent the measure, introduced by Rep. Ricky Templet, R-Gretna, to the House floor for debate. Besides banning the sale, manufacture or possession of “bath salts”, the bill also rewrites a law passed last year that bans the [...]
09.May.2011 This Week in Criminal Law: 5.9.11
It seems like a lot of people like to monkey around with the law when they’re on the road. That’s exactly what happened when a 21-year-old chimp named Suco got loose according to the Kansas City Star… The shenanigans don’t stop there. Last week, A New York man was arrested for DWI twice in the [...]
06.May.2011 Comments from Public Demonstrate Need for Reform of Marijuana Laws
A recent story in the Times Picayune about a St. Tammany Parish criminal case in which the defendant received a life sentence for attempted possession with the intent to distribute marijuana drew considerable public comment on the newspaper’s website. I am a criminal defense attorney, and a pretty liberal guy in general. So when I [...]
19.Apr.2011 Legislating an End to Synthetic Marijuana
The recent rise of many forms of synthetic marijuana has reignited a debate over marijuana policy in the UnitedStates, offering compelling reasons for federal and state governments to at least consider legalizing, or substantially de-criminalizing marijuana in this country. Discussions of the legalization of marijuana have raged for years in this country, with a variety of [...]
02.Mar.2011 UPDATE: DEA Ban on Synthetic Marijuana Finalized
The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a final order today to temporarily place five synthetic cannabinoids into the Controlled Substances Act pursuant to the temporary scheduling provisions. The substances are 1-pentyl-3-(1- naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018), 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-073), 1- [2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-200), 5-(1,1- dimethylheptyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (CP-47,497), and 5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1R,3S)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (cannabicyclohexanol; CP-47,497 C8 homologue). The full text of the [...]
22.Jan.2011 Federal Judge Won’t Stop DEA Ban on ‘Fake Pot’
The Associated Press reported the following today: A federal judge has rejected an attempt by Minnesota businesses to stop the government from cracking down on synthetic marijuana. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz on Friday dismissed a lawsuit that sought to prevent a nationwide ban on so-called “fake pot.” Schiltz says he lacks authority to act [...]
06.Dec.2010 Marijuana Possession May Become City Ordinance
In a move that reflects both the growing understanding that the penalties for possession of marijuana should be relaxed, as well as the fact that the criminal justice system has become clogged with prosecutions for lesser offenses, the City Council has proposed to make certain offenses violations of city ordinances. The Lens reports the following: [...]
08.Oct.2010 Laissez Les Bon Temps Get Sober
Visitors to New Orleans may soon have a new “real New Orleans” experience to write home about. If criminal justice leaders have their way, after letting the good times roll, visitors and locals alike will have an opportunity to let the good times sober up in a specially designed “Sobering Center”.
I am a New Orleans Criminal defense lawyer, and the managing attorney of NOLA Criminal Law. I am a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, with over 17 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana. Please visit my website for more.
