Steroid use is probably more common than you think. Many men and women choose to take steroids so that they can bulk up their muscles and have the fit body that they have always wanted. Unfortunately, anabolic steroids are illegal under the Texas Controlled Substances Act, meaning that those in possession of these drugs can be arrested or fined. If a person knowingly possesses these steroids, law enforcement will charge the offender with a Class A misdemeanor for any amount less than 28 grams. Those who have more than 28 grams of anabolic steroids may be charged with a third degree felony. This means that the possession crime will go on the offender’s record at conviction and may affect that person’s reputation or ability to get a job in the future.
Anyone who has over 200 grams of anabolic steroids can be charged with a second degree felony, which comes with serious penalties including jail. People who possess over 400 grams of anabolic steroids can be imprisoned from five years to life. The amounts are counted in units, and one pull, capsule or tablet is conserved one unit. 0.5 grams of liquid also counts as one unit of steroids.
In most states, the state and federal laws prohibit the use of anabolic steroids and Texas is no exception. This means that people can be prosecuted in both federal and state courts for this crime. Most of the time, the agency that made the arrest will determine whether you will be tried in federal or state court. On the federal level, possession of any schedule III substance including anabolic steroids can be punished by one year in prison and a minimum of $1,000 in fines.
A second offense at the federal level can lead to a mandatory imprisonment minimum of 15 days with a maximum of two years and a minimum fine of $2,500. The third offense is a mandatory 90 days in jail with up to three years and a minimum of $5,000 for possession of almost any amount of steroids. If you want more information about anabolic steroid abuse and offenses, or if you have been charged with steroid possession and want defense in court, a Houston criminal defense attorney at The Martinez Law Firm can be of use to you. Contact a lawyer at the firm today for more information.
One of the many changes high schools have made since I attended school
is the number of children that are prescribed drugs to treat different conditions. Most of the drugs that the kids are prescribed
today are illegal without a prescription. In fact, a drug that would normally
be a misdemeanor if possessed by a person is enhanced or “bumped
up” to a felony charge if they are found to be in possession of prescription drugs in a “drug-free zone” as a school. I wonder how a parent would
feel if their child was charged with a felony for buying medication from
another student at school who has obtained the medication legally? To
make matters worse, the student that sold the drugs is unlikely to be
charged with the crime.
One other thing to keep in mind is that a child that is 17 years of age
in Houston, Harris County, Texas is considered to be an adult. Thus,
a child would be arrested, if in illegal possession of prescription drugs, along with serious offenders which would be a scary situation for the child and their parents. If you have additional questions, The Martinez Law Firm is here to help.