Nebraska Interstate Drug Defense Attorney Daniel Stockmann recently released statistics indicating that marijuana related arrests have increased by 30% from 2014-2015, perhaps indicating that out of state drivers are being disproportionately and unfairly targeted.

Further details and Attorney Stockmann's explanation for this increase are available at the Stockmann Law website, http://www.nebraskainterstatedrugdefense.com/.

Coinciding with Colorado's legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, Nebraska marijuana arrests increased from 957 during the first half of 2014 to 1,243 for the same period, 2015 (statistics provided by the Nebraska Highway Patrol). Attorney Stockmann believes that that some interstate travelers may be affected by a noticeable change in enforcement philosophy. “While continuing to focus on drugs traveling east through Nebraska, law enforcement also seems to be increasing attention on the money traveling back west,“ he explains. “The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security are presumably getting involved in these “money" cases in order to follow the chain to the source, which often turns out to be operations in California, Colorado, Oregon, etc."

It is important to distinguish that marijuana-producing operations may be acting legally in their home state, but could be culpable for illegal activity when products are shipped out of state. For example, a California resident holding a medical marijuana card may grow up to 30 plants without violating any laws. However, legal violations do occur if these marijuana plants (or resulting products) are transported to another state. “Law enforcement has a vested interest in maintaining scrutiny over drugs heading into other states (e.g. the increased drug busts on Nebraska I-80)," Attorney Stockmann said. “Hence, it is not uncommon for people to be arrested in possession of marijuana while coming out of 'legalized' states and into 'non-legal' states. Additionally, Highway Patrols are also seizing money and property from individuals operations that are perceived to be transporting drug profits across state lines."

Drug Lawyer Stockmann suggests that defendants facing drug related charges related to unwarranted search and seizure of personal property become familiar with additional recently published news about illegal searches on Nebraska I-80. Another educational resource is the Stockmann Law website.