Motor vehicles, and the right to travel freely between states, make it possible for Missouri residents to visit Illinois or a variety of other domestic locations with minimal planning. No visas or travel approval is necessary to cross state lines and enjoy everything another state has to offer.
Unfortunately, some people end up facing very serious consequences because they try to bring home the wrong type of souvenirs after traveling to another state. Crossing the border into Illinois or another nearby state with different drug statutes than Missouri might lead to serious drug allegations. People are at risk of not only arrest and prosecution but possibly federal drug charges.
It is dangerous to cross state lines with drugs
Obviously, possessing a substance that is illegal in Missouri continues to be illegal even if the substance was legal to acquire in another jurisdiction. People have to abide by the laws of the location where they currently reside.
When Missouri residents cross state lines to take advantage of more lenient drug policies elsewhere, they have to be careful to avoid bringing the party back home with them. While it may seem tempting to do so, a simple traffic stop could escalate into an arrest followed by federal prosecution.
The decision to take prohibited substances across state lines is a federal offense. It technically constitutes drug trafficking. The person accused does not have to intend to sell the drugs or distribute them to other people. The mere act of transporting them from one state to another is potentially enough to warrant serious federal drug charges. The greater the overall weight of the drugs, the harsher the penalties possible.
Federal drug charges are different than State drug charges for several reasons. The first is that the statutes are slightly different. The second is that the case unfolds in federal court. The final difference is that federal drug laws apply. Defendants may be subject to harsh mandatory minimum sentences and may end up serving time in a federal facility.
Defendants accused of violating federal drug statutes often need help responding to those accusations. There is simply too much at stake for someone who has been accused of this kind of wrongdoing to attempt to “DIY” a defense, even if the charges at issue resulted from an innocent misunderstanding.