California Drug Laws Involving “GHB”
While GHB is commonly associated with date rape, it's important to recognize its dual nature. GHB can have a legal prescriptive effect when used for conditions like Narcolepsy, as prescribed by a physician, and is covered under California Health and Safety Code Sections 11350 and 11377. This knowledge can empower you to understand the legal nuances of GHB.
However, it's crucial to remember that GHB, known as a date rape drug, can have severe effects. It can sedate someone and, in high doses, even induce a coma. Its colorless and odorless nature makes it easy to slip into a drink, posing a significant risk. This understanding can help you stay cautious and alert in social situations.
It can be slipped into a drink because it's colorless and odorless. It usually gets out of the system in about 48 hours. So, if a person doesn't know that they were slipped the date rate drug, a lot of times in the cases that I've dealt with, even if they go to the hospital days later, it's not going to be detected in their system. Very rarely have I seen a case – although I have seen a few – that GHB shows up in someone's system.
A lot of people illegally use GHB, and it's highly addictive. It slows down the processes of the body. It slows down the brain, and apparently, they call it liquid ecstasy, so it's giving you this nice effect that people like so that people will use it. They can become psychologically and physically addicted to it because they enjoy using it—obviously, something you don't want to become addicted to.
It's also the type of drug that the authorities are very skeptical of. They think it has a sinister purpose, and for that reason, if they catch somebody with GHB, they're going to be looking to prosecute that person very harshly.
If you find yourself in a situation involving GHB, it's imperative to seek legal representation. A knowledgeable attorney can help you navigate the complexities of the law and ensure your rights are protected. This reassurance can provide you with the support you need during a challenging time.
You're in a much stronger position trying to resolve a case and avoid harsh penalties if you're addicted to GHB or using it socially than if you're trying to use it to put into somebody's drink and then later rape them.
So, if you've got one of these cases, you better take it very seriously because I can ensure you the prosecutors in Los Angeles County take these GHB cases very seriously, punish offenders very harshly, and really what you want to do as a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney is take whatever happened outside the policies that look and aim to punish somebody very, very severely.
We do that by getting your version of events across. Often, the police will conduct a one-sided investigation, looking only for evidence that hurts the person instead of investigating what really happened and trying to understand both sides of the occasion.
So, that's what we do. We get the other side of the equation across and will do everything we can to get you the best result. A lot of times, there are illegal searches related to the finding of the GHB in Los Angeles by the police department. Depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding your case and what happened, other defenses might apply to your case.
Contact our Drug Crime Lawyers for Help
So, what we do – because a lot of times people are nervous, they don't want to go to a criminal defense attorney – but, if you're in trouble, you want to strongly consider going to an attorney who knows what they're doing. We get you in and sit down in the privacy of my office.
The attorney/client privilege protects everything—whether you hire us or not. We had a frank conversation about what happened, why you had the GHB, and how much you had. You are encouraged to be honest and give us all the information.
Then, we'll start putting the pieces together to create a strategy for you so that you can end up with the best result—an approach that takes into account your life and all the things you have going for you and tries to counter some of these bad things that the prosecutors are going to try to keep on you once they prosecute this case and you get into court.
