Will the Downgrade to a Less Dangerous Drug Mean Pennsylvania Could Legalize Marijuana? May 7, 2024 The Biden Administration is moving to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, moving it away from Schedule I classification and the likes of the more addictive and/or potent heroin and LSD. This change may offer hope for those …
Recent Pennsylvania Legal News
Navigating the Legal Process: What Happens After an Arrest in Pennsylvania?
An arrest can leave people feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their rights and future. Legal troubles can hang like a cloud over defendants and their families. Knowing what to expect next in the process can help in being better prepared. In Pennsylvania, the process that unfolds after an arrest involves various steps, each designed to …
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Rules Skill Games Are Legal
Will Ruling End Debate Over Skill Games in Pennsylvania? In a 7-0 decision on November 30, 2023, the court upheld a Dauphin County judge’s finding earlier this year that the skill games are not slot machines or illegal gambling devices, but that the devices developed by Pace-O-Matic are actually “skill games”, meaning they require a …
The DUI Hotel Program in Pittsburgh, PA
The Allegheny County DUI Hotel Program: What is it and who is it for? The Pittsburgh DUI Hotel Program is an initiative to provide an alternative to traditional incarceration for individuals charged with DUI offenses in Allegheny County Pennsylvania. It aims to offer rehabilitation and a chance to address the root causes of DUI offenses. …
Major Fentanyl Seizures in Pittsburgh
Two Separate Incidents – 10,000 Doses of Fentanyl Seized in Pittsburgh. Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry announced two major fentanyl seizures in Pittsburgh, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat the deadly opioid crisis in Pennsylvania. According to her statement, 962 bricks of fentanyl were seized in Pittsburgh by Bureau of Narcotics Investigation Region V …
Veterans Court in Allegheny County, PA: A Second Chance for Veterans
The United States military personnel face extraordinary challenges during their service, from the rigors of deployment to the trauma of combat. Many vets return home with mental and physical health issues that can lead to difficulties in their personal and professional lives. Unfortunately, some veterans end up in the criminal justice system as a result …
Governor Shapiro Calls for End of Death Penalty in Pennsylvania
The death penalty in Pennsylvania still exists, but no one has been executed in nearly 24 years. In an announcement at Mosaic Community Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called on the PA General Assembly to abolish the death penalty. He added he would not issue any execution warrants, extending the moratorium on the …
Can You Be Charged with DUI Without Driving?
Pennsylvania Court Further Defines ‘Operation’ of Vehicle in DUI Cases In Bold vs. Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Commonwealth Court clarified the precedent for the term ‘operates’, which is used in the Implied Consent Law under Section 1547(b)(1)(ii) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 for license suspension cases. This definition expands the meaning to include …
DUI Checkpoints in Pittsburgh
DUI CheckPoints – Pittsburgh, PA Information and What You Should Know if You Are Stopped at a DUI Checkpoint The holidays are here again – time for people to get together, celebrate, and drink their care away! It’s the time for merriment, although holidays can also be stressful. One added stressor is that festivities could …
Fentanyl Test Strips Now Legal in Pennsylvania
Every day more people are becoming addicted to Fentanyl and more drug dealers are lacing pills and other drugs with Fentanyl (often without the user’s knowledge). These drugs could include illegal prescription medicine like Oxycontin or other drugs like heroin and cocaine. This has left dealers and drug users wondering if their product is safe …