Drug Free Zones
It never occurred to me that the drug bust at that house on B Street in Eureka the other day was in one of those Drug Free Zones. That subjects those arrested to enhanced sentences for illegal drug activity within 1000 feet of a school.
You've seen the signs, I'm sure; The black on white signs posted near schools that say "Drug Free School Zone", or whatever? I'd always wondered what those were all about. I read years ago that, even if you grow one pot plant in your house inside the area of one of those DFZ zones, you can get mandatory prison time, or some such. Looks like that's not always the case from what the papers are saying.
Local officials say that, because the drug activity took place inside the house, enhancements didn't apply. I wonder if that's local policy or federal policy? When I first read about DFZ years ago, I got the impression that it did apply to anywhere inside the drug free zone, inside a house or outside, regardless. I was under the impression that this DFZ thing was a federal law. Did I get that wrong?
posted by Fred Mangels @ 9:02 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I am under the same impression as you, about the zone including inside of the houses within the 1000 feet.
I have never understood the fact that CA legalized pot, but federal law doesn't. Wouldn't federal law supercede state law?
*bangs head on keyboard*
It seems to me it would be silly to not have it apply to the inside of a house. Not that I want someone busted for growing a few pot plants.
Yes, federal law does supercede state law but I think if something is legal under state law it gives local authorities more discretion as to how to enforce the law, or whether they enforce the law at all.
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