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...
Drug Charges
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...
Clearing up confusion: Are CBD products still illegal in Iowa?
On May 13, 2019, Iowa's governor signed the Iowa Hemp Act. Many supporters saw this as an opportunity for products containing hemp-derived Cannabidiol (CBD) to be manufactured, sold and bought within the state.Months later however, the legality of CBD products remains...
Diversion programs limit the consequences of criminal convictions
Diversion programs offer a way for people with minimal criminal histories to avoid becoming trapped in the criminal justice system."You don't want to see people make that one mistake in life and have to live with it for the rest of their lives," commented the...
Study: Asset forfeiture does little to reduce crime, drug use
A recent study released by the Institute for Justice, a libertarian-leading public interest law firm, calls into question a number of justifications for civil asset forfeiture. Contrary to claims by law enforcement, seizing property from criminal suspects does not...
Could Iowa cut its incarceration rate by half? ACLU says yes.
The state of Iowa could reduce its incarcerated population by 5,427 and save $360,400,064 by doing so -- all without a major impact on public safety, according to the ACLU of Iowa. The organization, along with ACLU affiliates nationwide, recently released a blueprint...
A large percentage of drug field tests result in false positives
If a drug field test comes back positive, that is generally considered enough to justify an arrest. Field tests are inadmissible in most courts, so further testing must be performed by a lab. Unfortunately, lab results can take months to come back. If a field test is...
Can you be arrested for driving while taking prescription drugs?
Driving while under the influence of drugs can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. In fact, if you are pulled over in Iowa and are found to have any amount of controlled or illegal substance in your bloodstream or urine, you can be charged with OWI.Different drugs...
How drug courts can offer hope
If you are charged with a drug crime, drug court may offer a way for you to regain freedom and control over your life while receiving substance abuse treatment. Drug court also keeps those charged from being incarcerated. Not all drug offenders are eligible for drug...
