Los Angeles Criminal Law Blog

Although marijuana is legal for medicinal use here in California, it is still illegal under federal law. Since federal law supersedes state law, there is significant friction between federal drug laws and our state law regarding marijuana. Sometimes, California citizens get ensnarled in the ensuing complications.

Recently, authorities attacked several marijuana dispensaries and growers in Santa Barbara County, filing federal charges against some. Two owners of Miramar Collective in Summerland, a marijuana farm, are facing narcotics charges and other collectives and dispensaries have been hit with lesser reprimands, including warning letters, search warrants and forfeiture suits.

Most developmental psychologists would agree that a person who is sexually attracted to children has a problem of some sort. Healthy, well-adjusted adults are attracted to other adults, not minors, so someone who has a prurient interest in children probably needs help or special attention to overcome this aberrance. It is a sad occasion whenever someone does not receive that help.

A 29-year-old man recently entered a not guilty plea in Los Angeles court after being charged with child pornography-linked offenses. The man, who used to work as a middle school teacher, allegedly exchanged sexually explicit pictures and messages with four underage victims. He has also been accused of traveling 180 miles to have sex with one of the minors.

Whitney Houston's death in Los Angeles two months ago was caused in part by her drug use, according to an autopsy report. A substance that has now been identified as cocaine was found in her hotel room shortly after her death Feb. 11, as was drug paraphernalia.

Untimely deaths, like that of Houston, are just one of the many reasons prosecutors are so aggressive about going after drug charges. Drugs tear away at the fabric of our society by removing people from productive, fulfilling roles and turning them into addicts who will willingly commit crimes and abandon responsibilities just so they can get their next fix.

Well, this has to be one of the more unusual drug stories we will ever bring you on this blog.

Drug dealers have a reputation for being innovative; after all, authorities are on their tails all the time, so coming up with new ways to get drugs into the hands of customers is a prerequisite of the job. But recent drug crime accusations against a former southern California swimsuit model are surprising.