What is considered drug paraphernalia?

Posted By Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 28-Jan-2015

Unless you are familiar with the large number of Texas state and federal guidelines regarding drug-related offenses, you may not understand when and how you are breaking the law. For instance, you may not be aware of the circumstances under which something like a container or piece of clothing can be considered drug paraphernalia under the law. That is why it is so important to have a basic understanding of what constitutes drug paraphernalia.

The US Department of Justice explains how drug paraphernalia is defined under the law and provides examples of when someone may be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia offenses. According to federal guidelines, drug paraphernalia is considered any object that is used to consume, conceal or produce illicit drugs. Common examples of drug paraphernalia include but are not limited to:

And while many forms of drug paraphernalia are produced and marketed by large businesses, it is important to note that just about any object can be considered drug paraphernalia under certain circumstances. For instance, a marker pen used to conceal marijuana could be considered drug paraphernalia under the law. Similarly, some products that can be marketed and sold for non-drug related use can still be considered illegal. It is also important to keep in mind that selling, mailing and transporting objects construed as drug paraphernalia is also illegal in most cases.

Determining what can be considered drug paraphernalia can depend largely on the circumstances of your case. Therefore, this information should not be considered legal advice.