Who’s Afraid Of MDPV?

Even if you majored in chemistry, it is hard to keep track of all the drugs that are known by their initials and have slight chemical differences from other drugs.  At least MDMA has some catchy nicknames, such as ecstasy and molly.  Reciting the full name of foxy can pass the time on a road trip at least as effectively as singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” can.  Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) does not have an especially memorable name, or even an especially memorable history, but if you have taken it, the experience is unforgettable.  Of course, MDPV is a Schedule I controlled substance, so getting caught with MDPV in your possession is likewise not an experience that you can quickly put behind you.  If you are facing criminal charges related to MDPV or another illegal drug, contact a Tampa drug crime lawyer.

From the Gas Station Counter to Schedule I

MDPV is a synthetic cathinone.  This means that it is one of many drugs with a similar chemical structure to cathinone, which is a psychoactive compound that occurs naturally in khat, a plant chewed as a recreational drug in Yemen and East Africa.  Khat is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, and so are its various copy khats, including MDPV.

Federal law categorized MDPV as a Schedule I controlled substance in 2004.  Schedule I controlled substances are illegal drugs that do not have any accepted medical uses, which means that they are illegal under all circumstances.  For purposes of comparison, Schedule II drugs, including fentanyl, have at least one accepted medical use, even though they are extremely dangerous if misused.  In other words, today MDPV is more illegal than fentanyl, but 20 years ago, you could buy it at gas stations, where it usually bore euphemistic names like “herbal supplement.”  Its desirability as a recreational drug derives mainly from its ability to intensify the effects of other stimulants, such as cocaine.

From the Super 8 Motel to the Courtroom

In the summer of 2023, Tiffany Raines and her one-year-old child were staying at a Super 8 motel in Palm Beach County; they had recently moved out of an apartment in Riviera Beach.  Police suspected that Raines was selling drugs out of the motel.  One day, they detained her as she and her child were entering the room, and they searched the room for evidence of drug sales.  They found 2.7 grams of cocaine, which appeared to be packaged for sale, and slightly less than a gram of MDPV.  They also found drug paraphernalia in the room.  Raines, 33, is currently facing six criminal charges, including drug trafficking and child neglect.  The child is currently in the care of other family members while the case against Raines is pending.

Contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Bryant Scriven

A criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are being accused of possessing illegal drugs when a child was present.  Contact Scriven Law in Tampa, Florida to schedule a consultation.

Source:

wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/riviera-beach/riviera-beach-woman-conducted-cocaine-sale-with-baby-present-police-say