A 32-year-old Denver-area middle-school science teacher was recently sentenced to two years of probation and five days of jail time for possession of a controlled substance under Colorado criminal law. With the apparent intention to distribute it, he allegedly had more than 25 grams of Molly. He was not arrested at school.
According to the SAMHSA blog, Molly is a type of Ecstasy, an illegal, dangerous, synthetic drug similar to methamphetamine and mescaline (SAMHSA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal agency). Also called MDMA, Molly has been associated with teen and young-adult use at raves and concerts, often in dangerous combinations with other substances.
Serious symptoms after taking Molly or Ecstasy can include high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, elevated body temperature and intense anxiety.
Under Colorado law, possession or distribution of Ecstasy can bring a felony conviction with potential prison time, probation and fines. The penalties will be more serious when a gun or large amount of the drug is involved, or if the defendant is caught with it by a school.
Involvement with Ecstasy or variations of the drug may also run afoul of federal criminal law.
Because of the severity of possible punishments, anyone accused of a drug crime in Colorado should immediately consult an experienced criminal defense attorney. In addition to legal penalties, criminal convictions can also restrict future efforts to obtain housing, employment and educational opportunities.
Source: The Denver Post, “Former teacher sentenced after being busted for drug possession,” Tegan Hanlon, Aug. 2, 2012