if snorted, would you get a sugar high?
June 18, 2021 3:46 AM Subscribe
It's not illegal to traffic icing sugar.
An Adelaide man has been acquitted of trafficking drugs because police secretly replaced cocaine hidden in a hollowed-out novel with icing sugar before the accused collected the item.
(Translation note: Icing sugar is also known as confectioner's sugar or powdered sugar. )
An Adelaide man has been acquitted of trafficking drugs because police secretly replaced cocaine hidden in a hollowed-out novel with icing sugar before the accused collected the item.
(Translation note: Icing sugar is also known as confectioner's sugar or powdered sugar. )
Looks like the SA prosecutors screwed up by charging him with trafficking. They would have had better luck with attempted trafficking.
Federal prosecutors run substituted drugs prosecutions all the time, and have clear guidelines on how to charge people properly. And the judgment in this case cites precedent from (successful) Commonwealth importation cases to support its reasoning…
This is not something that should have gone all the way to trial before the indictment was corrected.
posted by robcorr at 4:23 AM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
Federal prosecutors run substituted drugs prosecutions all the time, and have clear guidelines on how to charge people properly. And the judgment in this case cites precedent from (successful) Commonwealth importation cases to support its reasoning…
This is not something that should have gone all the way to trial before the indictment was corrected.
posted by robcorr at 4:23 AM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
I should add that it’s not clear why Border Force gave this case to the SA police and SA DPP instead of to the AFP and the CDPP… but I bet they regret it!
posted by robcorr at 4:24 AM on June 18, 2021
posted by robcorr at 4:24 AM on June 18, 2021
Had a birthday this week. Partner made a sponge cake. Note to self and cook next year: cake with candles is fine, cake dusted with icing sugar is fine; together they make a mess. At least I didn't blow a fireball.
posted by BobTheScientist at 4:58 AM on June 18, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 4:58 AM on June 18, 2021 [10 favorites]
I have nothing to add to this story except that I once witnessed a guy back in high school maths class snort a line of sherbet powder on a dare. The results were highly entertaining for everyone except the him.
posted by AndrewStephens at 6:57 AM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by AndrewStephens at 6:57 AM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
methamphetamine in Oregon, charged with a felony, but what I had purchased were supposed to be ecstasy pills
I … assume you know what the “MA” stands for?
posted by aspersioncast at 7:25 AM on June 18, 2021 [4 favorites]
I … assume you know what the “MA” stands for?
posted by aspersioncast at 7:25 AM on June 18, 2021 [4 favorites]
I don't dare tell you of the things you can find at your local fru-fru store that are snortable and get you "high" depending on definitions. That snorted sugar will either dissolve into your bloodstream or eventually make its way down to your stomach. It's been ingested. Some things can do both. Don't panic, it's organic. So yes you'd get a sugar high if you snorted/ingested enough, the absorption rate and area effected might differ. :)
(random job experience)
posted by zengargoyle at 7:27 AM on June 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
(random job experience)
posted by zengargoyle at 7:27 AM on June 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
> I … assume you know what the “MA” stands for?
I’m not sure what you’re implying by that. They’re related but they shouldn’t test as the same drug, and while MDMA is rather frequently intentionally adulterated with MA, MA is not a precursor so it’s not something that gets in there by accident.
posted by atoxyl at 7:30 AM on June 18, 2021 [5 favorites]
I’m not sure what you’re implying by that. They’re related but they shouldn’t test as the same drug, and while MDMA is rather frequently intentionally adulterated with MA, MA is not a precursor so it’s not something that gets in there by accident.
posted by atoxyl at 7:30 AM on June 18, 2021 [5 favorites]
I have nothing to add to this story except that I once witnessed a guy back in high school maths class snort a line of sherbet powder on a dare. The results were highly entertaining for everyone except the him.
In third grade, I snorted the candy from a Pixy Stix straw on a dare. I did get a bit light-headed, but I assume that's from hyperventilation after five straight minutes of sneezing and yelling in pain.
posted by solotoro at 7:58 AM on June 18, 2021 [8 favorites]
In third grade, I snorted the candy from a Pixy Stix straw on a dare. I did get a bit light-headed, but I assume that's from hyperventilation after five straight minutes of sneezing and yelling in pain.
posted by solotoro at 7:58 AM on June 18, 2021 [8 favorites]
I'm reminded of someone I know who smoked some very spicy pepper. Like, in a pipe. Apparently it caused a feeling one would expect to have only once in one's life - shortly before dying. (He did not die)
posted by rmd1023 at 8:01 AM on June 18, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 8:01 AM on June 18, 2021 [3 favorites]
a friend once snorted a small amount of water with a lot of grated garlic in it, because she'd heard somewhere that it would relieve her sinus headache. oh my...I'm sorry to admit it was pretty entertaining to watch her reaction to this...remedy. I don't recommend it.
posted by supermedusa at 8:27 AM on June 18, 2021
posted by supermedusa at 8:27 AM on June 18, 2021
how's the saying go? when you're straight, you got any number of problems, but when you've snorted garlic water, you only got one problem.
posted by logicpunk at 8:50 AM on June 18, 2021 [16 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 8:50 AM on June 18, 2021 [16 favorites]
There probably is, but distinguishing MDMA from methamphetamine is a primary purpose of test kits used on MDMA.
And yeah, as I said, all the widespread syntheses start with something that has the methylenedioxy ring structure. When meth is added to ecstasy pills it’s because it’s cheap and has some overlap in effects.
posted by atoxyl at 10:55 AM on June 18, 2021
And yeah, as I said, all the widespread syntheses start with something that has the methylenedioxy ring structure. When meth is added to ecstasy pills it’s because it’s cheap and has some overlap in effects.
posted by atoxyl at 10:55 AM on June 18, 2021
Simon's reagent turns dark blue in the presence of the secondary amine group in both methamphetamine and MDMA, it's used in police field identification test kits like this one (as well as harm reduction kits sold to consumers). So yeah, the police likely misused or misinterpreted a field identification test, and it happens all the time in the US as there is very little training or oversight into how they use them.
If asked what the substance in question is, for gods sake claim complete ignorance. And ask for a lawyer, obviously.
There was a regular at a bar where I worked who was a real Randle Patrick McMurphy character. After he was arrested for cocaine possession, he brought his charging documents into the bar for us all to enjoy. The arresting officer had a real knack for presenting the facts of the case, from memory there was a part that went something like:
posted by peeedro at 12:11 PM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
If asked what the substance in question is, for gods sake claim complete ignorance. And ask for a lawyer, obviously.
There was a regular at a bar where I worked who was a real Randle Patrick McMurphy character. After he was arrested for cocaine possession, he brought his charging documents into the bar for us all to enjoy. The arresting officer had a real knack for presenting the facts of the case, from memory there was a part that went something like:
Upon search of the vehicle two bags of white powder were discovered in the center console. When confronted, suspect identified them as "my cocaine". The suspect said, "The yellow bag is Peru's finest. Zowie! Real good stuff. The red bag is from Colombia. You gotta watch out for that, it'll turn you into a real Chatty Cathy, can talk your head off all night, like nonstop blah-blah-blah." The suspect was observed to be extremely talkative.Despite having a felony quantity of cocaine and a string of prior convictions, he got away with probation because he was that kind of guy who could be so friendly with the cops arresting him while coked out of his gourd and mostly get away with it.
posted by peeedro at 12:11 PM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
All he has to do now is speak to a certain man in a certain bar who might admit to knowing certain people of a Pinlike or Tulipolitan disposition...
(paraphrase, I haven't read this book in a while)
posted by humbug at 5:37 PM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
(paraphrase, I haven't read this book in a while)
posted by humbug at 5:37 PM on June 18, 2021 [2 favorites]
(random job experience)
Barista? No, baker. Baker wishing they really had some marching powder, and on failing to find any, figuring it was worth a shot at 4 AM.
posted by loquacious at 6:20 PM on June 18, 2021
Barista? No, baker. Baker wishing they really had some marching powder, and on failing to find any, figuring it was worth a shot at 4 AM.
posted by loquacious at 6:20 PM on June 18, 2021
Why the hell did the cops go through the trouble of replacing the cocaine with something else? Were they worried about losing it?
posted by mr_roboto at 10:36 PM on June 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_roboto at 10:36 PM on June 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
They wanted the cocaine for themselves? I don't have the highest opinion of cops...
posted by Dysk at 1:17 AM on June 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 1:17 AM on June 19, 2021 [5 favorites]
Careful about what you put in your nose, kiddos.
"I like to hear the rain come down..."
posted by kaibutsu at 3:15 AM on June 19, 2021
"I like to hear the rain come down..."
posted by kaibutsu at 3:15 AM on June 19, 2021
Why the hell did the cops go through the trouble of replacing the cocaine with something else?
I suppose because if it got misdirected they'd have to account for it. Or if the recipient had had a visitor while in possession of the package then the police would have had to decide whether they had grounds to stop and and search the visitor, and thereby alert the recipient. It can just become a huge can of worms.
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:44 AM on June 19, 2021
I suppose because if it got misdirected they'd have to account for it. Or if the recipient had had a visitor while in possession of the package then the police would have had to decide whether they had grounds to stop and and search the visitor, and thereby alert the recipient. It can just become a huge can of worms.
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:44 AM on June 19, 2021
Neti Pot section:
I like to hear the rain come down . . .
I'd rather not hear my brain slow down . . . and stop. [CW Balamuthia mandrillaris aka brain-eating protozoan]
posted by BobTheScientist at 3:52 AM on June 19, 2021
I like to hear the rain come down . . .
I'd rather not hear my brain slow down . . . and stop. [CW Balamuthia mandrillaris aka brain-eating protozoan]
posted by BobTheScientist at 3:52 AM on June 19, 2021
Dumb cops? Or were they expecting the guy to be charged over sugar? cops can be so dumb and numb.
Sugar highs. If I drink a bottle of "Mexican Coke" it does make me high for about 1/2 hour. Then you crash, which is awful, which is why I'm not a cocaine fiend. Cane sugar: one hell of a drug.
BobTheScientist : Wow. I wonder if a Neti Pot is worth it? I've been a Neti user for years, but things like that scare me. Must look into Neti more thoroughly.
posted by james33 at 7:03 AM on June 19, 2021
Sugar highs. If I drink a bottle of "Mexican Coke" it does make me high for about 1/2 hour. Then you crash, which is awful, which is why I'm not a cocaine fiend. Cane sugar: one hell of a drug.
BobTheScientist : Wow. I wonder if a Neti Pot is worth it? I've been a Neti user for years, but things like that scare me. Must look into Neti more thoroughly.
posted by james33 at 7:03 AM on June 19, 2021
(Sounds like the key is to only use sterilized water. Fresh brewed coffee and whisky should also be safe from micro organisms.)
posted by kaibutsu at 10:20 AM on June 19, 2021
posted by kaibutsu at 10:20 AM on June 19, 2021
Try the whisky; tell me how it goes.
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:22 PM on June 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:22 PM on June 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
I live in the "party quarter" neighborhood of Budapest, which attracts thousands of tourists and locals to bars and clubs on a (non-covid) night. We have "dealers" - usually teen gangs - who mark out corners and sell bags of vegetable matter and white powder to the punters every night. The cops arrest them but nearly 100% of the time they are selling bags of baking soda or packaged marjoram wrapped in plastic wrap (for EU 50 a pop.) The cops can't do anything. By 7 pm you can't buy baking powder or marjoram in any of the local shops.
posted by zaelic at 2:18 AM on June 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by zaelic at 2:18 AM on June 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
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If asked what the substance in question is, for gods sake claim complete ignorance. And ask for a lawyer, obviously.
A solicitor friend tells a story of a guy he defended arriving from Amsterdam with a bag full of pills. When asked what they were he told customs they were ecstasy pills. Turns out he’s been ripped off and had bought a couple hundred fake tablets containing no illegal substance at all.
He still got 10 years for “intent to supply a controlled substance”.
We should all know this already but beats repeating: Don’t say ANYTHING to cops until you speak to a lawyer.
posted by JohnnyForeign at 4:14 AM on June 18, 2021 [42 favorites]