A friend has been dealing drugs for some time, and you’ve always envied this source of income. When you mention it, your friend offers to get you into the business. You express your doubts because of the illegality of it, and your friend counters by telling you that he just sells imitation drugs so it’s not dangerous and it’s not illegal.
Is that true? If you take your friend at his word and get caught selling it, the decision you make could impact the rest of your life. How much do you trust that information?
Imitations are illegal
If you felt skeptical about it, you had good reason to. The reality is that selling an imitation is just as illegal as selling the real thing. Nevada law specifically states: “It is unlawful for a person to manufacture, distribute, sell or possess with the intent to distribute or sell an imitation controlled substance.”
For a first offense, if the person buying is an adult, it’s a misdemeanor. However, if the buyer is a minor, then it is a Class C felony. It also becomes a Class C felony if the person has two or more convictions on their record at the time of arrest; in other words, the first two convictions are a misdemeanor and everything after that is a felony.
Imitation marijuana
One of the most common drugs in the United States is synthetic marijuana, which is simply an imitation that uses added chemicals to produce similar effects. It’s often called K2 or Spice. Other street names include Black Mamba, Bliss, Fake Weed, Mojo, Genie, Zohai, and Scooby Snax.
These are all illegal on the federal level and, as noted above, the sale of them is also illegal under Nevada state law.
Some people may be under the illusion that these drugs became legal when recreational marijuana got legalized in Nevada, but that’s not the case. That law makes it legal for people to buy a small amount of the authentic plant for personal use. It is still strictly regulated and proper procedures have to be followed when buying, selling, and distributing this product.
Plus, the new laws do not address synthetic drugs or imitations. These remain illegal, as they were before marijuana legalization.
Of course, it’s not all about marijuana. Other synthetic drugs include N-BOMe and bath salts. The sale of these drugs is also illegal, even though they are intended to mimic things like cocaine or LSD.
A critical mistake
As you can see, getting misinformation from a friend could lead to some serious legal charges. Make sure you know what defense options you have when accused of intent to sell.
