Weighing the ‘Right to Try’ law
A new law promising terminally ill patients access to trial drugs is no cure-all.
Drugs
Articles
Some justices dubious of synthetic drug law arguments
At least two of Indiana’s five Supreme Court justices were openly skeptical of arguments that the state’s scheme for criminalizing synthetic drugs such as Spice and bath salts is unconstitutional, as the Court of Appeals ruled.
Lawyer suspended for distributing pseudoephedrine
A South Bend attorney who pleaded guilty to federal charges that she supplied a key ingredient to members of a meth ring has been suspended from the practice of law for three years.
Searches without suspicion are not unconstitutional, COA affirms
A one-month-old decision by the Indiana Supreme Court upended a probationer’s argument that the search of his nightstand was unconstitutional.
Lilly, partner sue Lupin over generic testosterone
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. and Acrux DDS Pty Ltd. have filed a lawsuit against Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. for alleged infringement of patents that cover the testosterone treatment Axiron.
Ex-cop snared in drug, conspiracy sting loses appeal
A former Indiana police officer sentenced to 40 years in prison after he transferred guns and agreed to protect a cocaine shipment in a sting operation lost his federal court appeal.
COA affirms habitual offender enhancement
A habitual offender failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that an amended statute, which took effect July 1, 2014, should have been applied to enhance his dealing cocaine conviction.
Justices uphold use of drug implicated in botched executions
The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the use of a controversial drug that has been implicated in several troubled executions.
Man deported after living in US since age 1 gets relief
An Indiana man who was ordered deported after pleading guilty to federal marijuana charges will be allowed to return to the country, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday.
Teen’s arrest did not violate 4th Amendment
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a teen’s adjudication for carrying a handgun handed down after police arrested the occupants of the car he was riding in after smelling burnt marijuana during a traffic stop. The judges unanimously held the officers had probable cause to arrest the car’s occupants, including the teen.
Ex-firefighter sues over drug tied to compulsive gambling
A former Indianapolis firefighter has sued two drug companies, saying they failed to act on reports that a medication she was prescribed for restless leg syndrome causes compulsive behaviors such as gambling.
Reversal: IDACS error no basis to suppress meth evidence
Southern Indiana authorities who arrested a man for buying pseudoephedrine had probable cause even though the suspect had not been convicted of a prior methamphetamine charge, as a state database reported.
Evidence seized from probationer’s roommate violated 4th Amendment
The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed the partial denial of a man’s request to suppress drug evidence found during a routine warrantless search of the residence he shared with a man on probation. The probationer only consented to searches based on reasonable suspicion.
COA upholds termination of mother’s parental rights
The Indiana Court of Appeals found no abuse of discretion by a trial court when it denied a mother’s request to continue her termination of parental rights hearing for several months, when she expected to be released from incarceration. The mother was unable to prove that she would definitely be out of jail at that time.
Indiana Supreme Court to review police search struck down by COA
The Indiana Supreme Court will review a drug-possession conviction reversed by the Court of Appeals in February because a police search lacked reasonable suspicion.
Where the clients ‘are no stoned-out hippies’
Small firms, like Brian Vicente’s in Denver, have been advising clients on marijuana law issues for several years. Now even some bigger corporate firms are tiptoeing into the business.
Probationer’s admission to smoking marijuana supports revocation
Because a man on probation admitted to participating in unlawful conduct during his probationary period, the trial court correctly revoked his probation, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.
Drug conviction reversed because state didn’t prove substance was heroin
Because police did not prove the product of a controlled drug buy was heroin, the Court of Appeals reversed a man’s conviction of Class A felony dealing in a narcotic within 1,000 feet of a school.
COA: Trial court properly admitted drug evidence
The Indiana Court of Appeals held that a trial court acted within its discretion when it admitted evidence found after executing a search warrant of a large quantity of marijuana in a defendant’s backpack, which led to the revocation of the defendant’s probation.
Justices to determine if ‘Spice law’ void for vagueness
The Indiana Supreme Court will determine whether Indiana’s “Spice law” banning synthetic drugs as new formulations appear is void for vagueness, as separate divided panels of the Court of Appeals ruled in January.