Vaping has been in the news lately due to numerous suspicious deaths, many involving teenagers. These deaths have led to authorities paying more attention to students who vape. In some places here in Texas, students could face accusations of felony drug crimes because they vape.
Some schools use smoke-alarm like technology or drug dogs to detect chemicals often contained in vape juices. Students caught with vape devices could face suspension or expulsion depending on the circumstances. One thing officials are looking for is the THC in marijuana. Vaping THC is said to be more potent than smoking marijuana in some other fashion since it goes directly into the lungs and the bloodstream.
If preliminary testing of the liquid in a student’s vape device indicates the presence of THC, the student may find him or herself under arrest. In some jurisdictions, even the suspicion of vaping THC is enough to warrant an arrest. Students’ futures are put in jeopardy based on these preliminary tests. Even an arrest could affect a young person’s future, especially if he or she is of the age where the charges are handled in an adult court.
Any Texas student accused of felony drug crimes due to owning a vape has rights that officials must protect. Police require probable cause for a search, a seizure and an arrest. Investigating whether an individual’s rights were violated is often an integral part of any review of the circumstances surrounding an arrest. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help anyone accused of a crime achieve the best possible outcome to any charges filed.
