Drug Paraphernalia in North Dakota, by Nick Thornton.
I have represented hundreds of people charged with possessing items of drug paraphernalia, ranging from a piece of tin foil to a syringe to a huge bong. Until recently, all drug paraphernalia in North Dakota except marijuana paraphernalia was a felony level offense. After a Legislative change this year, however most paraphernalia is now a misdemeanor (unless the person has prior paraphernalia offenses). However, it is still a serious criminal charge. People can and do go to jail over possessing it.
From a public policy standpoint, paraphernalia is an interesting criminal offense. Ordinarily, criminal law needs to adequately define conduct to be prohibited. This requirement allows ordinary citizens to know what is legal and what is not legal. Take for instance the prohibition on possessing short barreled shotgun. The law generally prohibits people from possessing a short-barreled shotgun, and then very precisely defines the minimum length of the barrel as “less than eighteen inches [45.72 centimeters]…” An average citizen can easily whip out a tape measure and make sure they are in compliance with the law before purchasing a shotgun. That is how the law is supposed to work.
When it comes to drug paraphernalia, on the other hand, almost anything can be drug paraphernalia. It depends on how the item is used or intended to be used. For instance, drug paraphernalia can include tin foil, light bulbs, or plastic zip seal baggies. How many of us have those items in our homes and think nothing of it? That’s what makes drug paraphernalia such a scary crime.
So what are the limits of what is considered drug paraphernalia? Let’s start with the legal definition. According to North Dakota law, drug paraphernalia includes “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….” What?!?!
So even the Legislature knew this definition was too broad, so then they gave a 13-item list of examples of drug paraphernalia. Kits used for planting or growing drug plants like marijuana or cocoa plants; kits used for processing drugs; devices used to increase the potency of drug plants; testing equipment for analyzing the effectiveness or purity of drugs; cutting agents used in processing drugs; scales and balances used to weigh drugs; sifters used to separate twigs and stems from marijuana; bowls, containers, spoons, grinders and other items used to prepare drugs; capsules, balloons, envelopes and other containers used to package drugs in small quantities; containers used to store or conceal drugs; syringes or needles used to inject drugs; spoons, pipes, bongs, and smoking tools; and ingredients used to make drugs (including anhydrous ammonia, precursor items, or lawfully possessed prescription drugs.
Eventually, the Legislature figured out this was not specific enough, so in 2001, they passed another law called “drug paraphernalia guidelines.” These “guidelines” were designed to narrow down exactly what types of ordinary, everyday items are “paraphernalia.” In determining whether something is drug paraphernalia, the authorities are supposed to look to the following:
Okay, does that clear up the picture? Probably not. The answer is still “anything related to using drugs.” The law just gives law enforcement and the Court more “guidance” on how to determine what is drug paraphernalia.
Now that we have the definitions down, the question turns to what types of items do I commonly see charged as drug paraphernalia. These are the general categories:
Finally, I often get questions about “clean,” unused items. The bottom line is that under North Dakota law, a person can be charged with and convicted of possessing an items of paraphernalia, even if it is unused or clean. Let me give you an example. If law enforcement would find a kit containing a small baggie of methamphetamine, a clean spoon, and an unused syringe, the spoon and syringe would likely be charged out as paraphernalia. They are items falling within the general definition of drug paraphernalia, they are specifically included in the 13-item list, and although clean and unused, have several supporting guidelines factors (i.e., found in close proximity to drugs, circumstantial evidence of intended use, and likely expert testimony from law enforcement regarding meth rigs and kits). Residue on the item is just one factor to be considered, although it’s a pretty damning factor if drug residue is present. Obviously, if the spoon had drug residue on it and the syringe had been used, those items clearly fall within the definition of paraphernalia.
Now that you have a better understanding about what drug paraphernalia is, you should understand how important it is to have a hardworking defense attorney on your side, with a lot of experience handling these types of cases. Nick Thornton at our office can answer all of your questions about drug paraphernalia. Please give him a call at (701) 478-7620 to schedule a consultation today.
© 2021 Fremstad Law
TERMS OF USE AND DISCLAIMER: Thank you for visiting the Fremstad Law Web site. Please note that the materials on our site have been prepared by us for general informational purposes and are not legal advice. We will not accept requests for legal advice over the Internet. You should not rely on any information contained herein in evaluating any specific legal issues you may have. Do not send us information about your legal issues until you speak to one of our lawyers and get authorization to do so. The firm does not and will not consider or treat any unsolicited e-mails or information sent to us, an attorney, or an employee of the firm by persons seeking legal advice or other non-clients to be confidential and the firm reserves the unconditional right to disclose or use any such unsolicited e-mails or information for any purpose. Your use of our Web site and/or sending e-mail to us or one of our lawyers does not create a lawyer-client relationship. A lawyer-client relationship is not created except by a written acknowledgment of such an engagement signed by a member of the firm. For your convenience, our Web site may contains links to other third-party sites. We do not endorse or verify the accuracy of information on such sites and are not responsible for the contents of any of these third-party resources. The inclusion of such link on this site does not imply the endorsement, recommendation or approval of that site by Fremstad Law.