A Little-Known Law Can Spell Big Trouble PILL PLANNERS AND THE POLICE
LAUGH IT OFF
A cheap plastic accessory you can find in most pharmacies and big-box stores could land you in jail. Those handy little “pill planners,” usually marked with the days of the week, help countless people around the world keep track of their medications. But here in Georgia, the law sees these innocent little organizational tools as a means to get away with drug crimes. KEEP THOSE ORANGE VIALS Now, to be clear, the state doesn’t care that you have one of these planners. But, if you’re caught with one containing prescription drugs, you’re more than likely to be charged with a crime. This is because of Georgia’s “original container” law, which states that prescriptions need to be kept in the same bottles, vials, or boxes that the pharmacist gave you. Thus, whether you have your next dose stored away in a plastic bag, a pill planner, a pocket, or anything other than the original packaging, you are committing a misdemeanor. OR ELSE Taking a drug out of its packaging seems like such a small thing, but Georgia law doesn’t see it that way. Those charged with not having drugs in their original container face serious consequences, including up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. As bad as these punishments are on their own, being found with drugs like OxyContin outside their original container can lead to a downward spiral of legal consequences. THINGS GET MESSY Part of the reasoning behind the “original container” law is the idea that it, hypothetically, cuts down on the illegal sale and use of prescription drugs. Pharmacy containers will have your name listed on them, so an officer can verify that the pills are in fact yours. Because it’s assumed alternative means for storing these drugs might be used for criminal purposes, you may wind up facing even more severe crimes like possession with intent to sell. Obviously, the police aren’t going to raid your house to find out if you’re using a pill planner, but what if you pack your planner for a road trip and get pulled over? You consent to a search because you “have nothing to hide,” and suddenly you’re staring down jail time. Never consent to warrantless searches, stay informed, and never be afraid to call a lawyer you trust.
CLASSIC APPLE CRISP
Inspired by Food Network
What do you do when apples are in season but you don’t have time to make a pie? You opt for a crisp, of course.
INGREDIENTS Filling: • 5 lbs Granny Smith
Topping: • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp salt • 6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces • 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour • 2 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tbsp lemon juice
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling. 4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.
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