The penalties for violating Iowa’s drug laws can be severe. Individuals found in possession of small quantities of controlled substances are usually charged with misdemeanors and may avoid prison altogether, but people accused of manufacturing, trafficking or...
Drug Charges
Is drug possession a felony in Iowa?
Drug possession and consumption laws are changing every day. When neighboring states start legalizing certain drugs, it might be worth looking into if drug possession is a felony in your state. While Iowa's laws haven't changed that drastically, the fine print...
Can I be charged with an OWI while taking prescription drugs?
Though prescription drugs are essential for many Iowa residents, they can lead to dangerous situations on the road if they are not taken properly.Iowa law treats prescription drugs the same as other controlled substances, including marijuana and cocaine. Driving with...
More people released after drug field tests proven wrong
Sometimes, all it takes is an accusation. If you're accused of a serious crime, you may be assigned bail that you can't afford. If you can't afford bail, you could be stuck in jail for days or months. You could lose your job, your housing, your child custody rights....
Tyson Timbs’ seized Land Rover is returned to him, for now
Across the country, police use civil asset forfeiture as a tool in the War on Drugs. When the police deem property or money to be associated with a drug crime, they can seize it. Then, the owner has to prove that the assets were not connected with a crime. If they...
Rethinking the Drug War around fentanyl and its analogues
In the 1980s and 1990s, both states and the federal government began to crack down on drug offenses at every level. Fighting drug crime was prioritized. Mandatory minimum sentence laws were passed. Prosecutors began stacking sentences to keep people in prison for...
Should a drug relapse on probation mean prison time?
Right now, Iowa and most jurisdictions deal with drug abuse almost exclusively through law enforcement. If you're caught with a prohibited drug, or one you don't have a prescription for, you can be arrested, charged and convicted of a criminal offense. In most cases,...
Iowa Supreme Ct: Immigration status OK to consider in sentencing
In 2018, a Mexican immigrant who had been brought to the U.S. as a teenager was convicted in Iowa of intent to deliver marijuana. During a 2017 traffic stop, officers allegedly found 184 one-pound bags of marijuana and a handgun in his car. Although he claimed he had...
Iowa’s Good Samaritan Law seeks to save lives
Iowans should never have to choose between saving someone's life or putting themselves in legal jeopardy in the event of a drug overdose. That is the purpose behind the state's Good Samaritan Immunity Law enacted in 2018.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
In Iowa, dealers in illicit drugs are required to get tax stamps
Many people call it a punitive measure or an extra punishment for distributing drugs. If you're caught dealing illegal drugs in Iowa, you may be charged with tax evasion if you didn't obtain excise tax stamps for what you sell. Having the stamps proves you've paid the...
