| Drug and Narcotics Law |
| Controlled Substance Act |
| Marijuana and Medical Marijuana |
| Powder and Crack Cocaine |
| Prescription Drugs |
| Heroin, Opium, and Morphine |
| Metamphetamines, Ecstasy, PCP |
Methamphetamine, Ecstasy, PCP
Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive stimulant that is cheaper and is said to give a "high" effect that lasts much longer than cocaine. Because it is relative easy and inexpensive to manufacture methamphetamine, illicit manufacturers proliferate and make substantial profit. As a response and to discourage illegal manufacture of meth, the U.S. Congress enacted the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996.
Under this Act, the penalties for trafficking in meth or in the component chemicals used for manufacturing meth (also known as precursors), such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine (PPA), are increased. The Act also gives authority to the government to regulate and seize these controlled substances.
The law also regulates the sale of large amounts of OTC products containing these precursor chemicals. Some states have even passed more stringent requirements on the single-transaction sales limits on said products. Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996 also doubled the maximum penalties for possession of meth and increased the penalty for the possession of equipment used to manufacture meth from 4 to 10 years.
Ecstasy
Another drug which is also a methamphetamine with hallucinogenic properties is Ecstasy (otherwise known as methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Ecstasy also bears a street name of E, XTC, X, Adam or Eve and is usually available as a capsule or a pill. It works by stimulating increased secretions of serotonin, a neuro-transmitter that regulates how the brain perceives appetite, mood and pain, and also influences memory mechanisms. Those who are caught selling a huge volume of the ecstasy drug may face potential jail terms of more than six years.
PCP
Phencyclidine piperidine, or PCP, has seen a lot of legitimate use, mainly as a fast-acting, quick-relief analgesic and a general anesthetic. It was originally placed in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act because of this legitimate medical usage. However, it was moved to Schedule II, which in a way reflected its growing popularity on the street markets and reduced usage in medical treatments.
If you have been caught selling or in possession of any of the above-mentioned illegal drugs and/or you want to know the latest state and federal laws as well as the applicable jurisprudence, you should consult a criminal law attorney specializing in drug cases.