Manufacturing Meth
Unlike offenses such as sale or possession of a controlled substance where the amount of the illegal drug impacts the severity of the criminal charges, manufacturing methamphetamine (commonly referred to as “crystal meth” or just “meth”) in Minnesota is a controlled substance crime in the first degree regardless of the amount involved. Additionally, a person can be charged with manufacturing meth regardless of whether he or she had any intention to sell the drug.
Unlike popular illegal drugs such as marijuana or cocaine where the controlled substance is cultivated or derived from a plant, methamphetamine is manufactured, synthesized, or “cooked” from a variety of different chemicals. Many of the ingredients used in the production of meth are perfectly legal substances that are widely available.
Lawyer for Manufacturing Methamphetamine Arrest in Apple Valley, MN
Were you arrested or do you believe that you might be the target of a criminal investigation for allegedly manufacturing methamphetamine in the greater Twin Cities area? Do not make any kind of statement to authorities until you have contacted James Blumberg Law.
Apple Valley criminal defense attorney James Blumberg is a former prosecutor who defends clients in Minnetonka, Lakeville, Eagan, Burnsville, Bloomington, St. Cloud, and several surrounding areas. Call (952) 431-7758 right now to take advantage of a free consultation that will let our lawyer review your case and help you understand all of your legal options.
Minnesota Manufacture of Methamphetamine Information Center
- Which types of evidence may be used to charge an individual with this crime?
- What are the possible consequences of a conviction for manufacturing meth?
- Where can I learn more about methamphetamine addiction?
Methamphetamine Manufacture Charges in Dakota County
When police arrest alleged offenders on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, authorities rarely catch people in the act of actually making the controlled substance. Criminal charges in these cases usually rely on a variety of circumstantial evidence.
Police may include notes about suspicious activity surrounding the location of the alleged manufacturing, including repeated visitors at all time of the day. Authorities may use burn pits, stained soil, or dead vegetation as evidence of chemical or waste dumping. Investigators commonly claim that the scenes of alleged manufacturing had strong chemical odors.
Some of the other specific types of evidence that may be collected and used as evidence of alleged meth manufacturing include, but are not limited to:
- Acetone;
- Alcohol;
- Aluminum foil;
- Antifreeze;
- Batteries;
- Camp stoves;
- Cheesecloth;
- Coffee filters;
- Contaminated cat litter bags;
- Coolers;
- Drain openers;
- Duct Tape;
- Epsom salt;
- Ether;
- Freon;
- Gas cans;
- Glass jars or bottles with dried chemical residue;
- Hot plates;
- Lye;
- Masks;
- Measuring equipment;
- Over-the-counter medication or packaging from such medication containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine;
- Paint thinner;
- pH test strips;
- Plastic soda bottles;
- Portable burners;
- Propane tanks;
- Rock salt;
- Rubber gloves;
- Rubber hosing;
- Stained rags;
- Starting fluids;
- Thermometers;
- Thermos bottles;
- Timers; and
- White gas.
Manufacturing Meth Penalties in Apple Valley
Under Subdivision 3 of Minnesota Statute § 152.021, a person convicted of a methamphetamine manufacture crime can be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $1 million. If the alleged offender has a previous controlled substance conviction, he or she can be sentenced to a minimum of four years up to 40 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1 million.
Additionally, Subdivision 1 of Minnesota Statute § 152.0275 establishes that a court may also order a person convicted of manufacturing or attempting to manufacture methamphetamine to pay restitution to all public entities that participated in the response when the response to the crime involved an emergency response. An emergency response is defined as including, but is not limited to, “removing and collecting evidence, securing the site, removal, remediation, and hazardous chemical assessment or inspection of the site where the relevant offense or offenses took place, regardless of whether these actions are performed by the public entities themselves or by private contractors paid by the public entities, or the property owner.”
The court can also order a person convicted of manufacturing or attempting to manufacture methamphetamine to pay restitution to a property owner who incurred removal or remediation costs because of the crime. Altogether, these costs can be several thousands of dollars.
Minnesota Resources for Manufacture of Methamphetamine Crimes
Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) MN | Minnesota CMA Meetings & Help — Crystal Meth Anonymous, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation that was founded in 1994 by a recovering crystal meth addict 16 years sober in Alcoholics Anonymous who saw “a growing number of other crystal meth addicts attending various twelve-step meetings” but “recalled that many of the secretaries of these meetings did not like the shares of the crystal meth addicts and were, therefore, reluctant to call on them in meetings.” You can learn more about CMA on this website and find the dates and times of meetings in Minnesota. The only requirement for CMA membership is a desire to stop using.
CMA Minnesota Area Intergroup
P.O. Box 710
Anoka, MN 55303
(612) 787-5775
Meth Lab Program | Environmental Health (EH) Division: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) — On this section of the MDH website, you can learn more about the agency’s Methamphetamine Laboratory Program, which provides “technical advice on the remediation (cleaning) of clandestine methamphetamine production laboratories (meth labs) and decontamination of property exposed to meth lab activities.” Topics on this website include information for real estate agents, contractors, county officials, property owners, landlords, and renters. You can also find a guide that can help you determine if a property ever was a meth lab.
Environmental Health Services
Minnesota Department of Health
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55164
(651) 201-4500
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) | Treating meth addiction requires a different approach — In June 2004, MPR published this story that includes the journey to sobriety for one 23-year-old man who was 18 months sober and going to college as well as a recovering methamphetamine addict who went on to work at the Hazelden treatment center for more than a decade after recovering. The article touches on some of the many difficulties addicts face as well as the multiple forms of treatment available. The story also discusses some of the limitations of insurance coverage as it relates to treatment for methamphetamine addiction.
Find a Lawyer for Manufacturing Meth Arrest in Dakota County
If you think you could be under investigation or you were already arrested for alleged methamphetamine manufacturing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, you will want to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. James Blumberg Law represents clients facing drug charges in Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Woodbury, Blaine, and many surrounding areas.
James Blumberg is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Minnesota who helps people in numerous communities throughout Scott County, Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Dakota County, Carver County, Anoka County, and Washington County. He can provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case as soon as you call (952) 431-7758 or complete an online contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation.