Young adults such as teenagers and college students frequently experiment with risky behavior. They may try mind-altering substances and dabble in breaking the law. Many young adults experiment with marijuana or cannabis. They may view it as one of the safest drugs, as fatal overdoses are effectively impossible.
However, they may worry about getting caught because of the telltale smell of burning marijuana. Marijuana concentrates including dabs and vaporizer cartridges are popular alternatives. While they still have a smell, they tend to be less odorous and obvious than traditional marijuana flower.
Unfortunately for young adults in Texas, marijuana concentrates lead to a different type of charge than traditional marijuana.
Possessing concentrates is a felony
Natural-state marijuana is one of the few drugs that people can possess in Texas and face simple misdemeanor charges. Most other substances lead to felony prosecution. Marijuana concentrates also automatically lead to felony charges in most cases.
Under current Texas statutes, any amount of marijuana concentrate could lead to a felony charge. The residue left behind in a vaporizer cartridge could be enough to justify arresting and prosecuting a young adult with a felony drug offense. Not only are the penalties more serious in felony drug cases, but the criminal record that results often has a much more profound impact on the individual’s life after their conviction.
Helping young adults properly respond to drug charges can potentially mitigate the impact those accusations could have on your future. Recognizing that some types of marijuana are riskier than others could help young adults avoid mistakes that could alter the course of their lives.