How come when people admit to taking illegal drugs they aren't fined, arrested, etc?. etc.?

[juanito]

For example, I think Oprah sniffed cocaine when she was younger. How come the many times she's talked about this, she hasn't been fined or arrested because she is admitting to breaking the law. And no, it doesn't just occur with celebrities, I've seen it with normal people admitting to doing such on other TV shows such as Judge Judy.

Thanks.

[hurst]

Statute of limitations.

[siuaghan]

A few reasons:

* Simply saying that you used drugs is not itself sufficient evidence for anything, unless it is a formal confession to the police. Even then, to have a solid case, the police would still probably need to find the drugs and present them as evidence.

* If such a confession is made after the statute of limitations has elapsed, it is meaningless.

[lifton]

By law they have to actualy catch you. Yes I have smoked weed before but I cant be arrested for somthing the cops did not catch me doing. Admitidly I think I made a mistake when I smoked weed but I am trying to make up for it the best way I can and that is by informing others on what happened.

[lathrop]

If your not caught with the drugs---there is no crime to admit you took them.Ones word is not proof.

[ern]

Do you think everything apart from "illegal drugs" going smooth in this world ? Come into reality my friend!!!!

[demarco]

Its because the way the laws are written.

Technically speaking, USING drugs is not a crime. The crime is POSSESSION of drugs. Unless you are physically caught with drugs, you cannot be arrested and charged. In order to convict somebody of possession, the substance needs to be recovered and tested to confirm it is indeed marijuana, cocaine, etc. You cannot be convicted based on a confession of past usage. Even a positive drug test cannot be used in and of itself to convict you of a crime (although it can be used for probation/parole revocation, but thats a bit different).

[karlitis]

Its because the way the laws are written.

Technically speaking, USING drugs is not a crime. The crime is POSSESSION of drugs. Unless you are physically caught with drugs, you cannot be arrested and charged. In order to convict somebody of possession, the substance needs to be recovered and tested to confirm it is indeed marijuana, cocaine, etc. You cannot be convicted based on a confession of past usage. Even a positive drug test cannot be used in and of itself to convict you of a crime (although it can be used for probation/parole revocation, but thats a bit different).

Dude! Judge Judy is about as real as Springer!

[taillefer]

Use of drugs alone is not a crime. In most places, drug related crimes are limited to possessing the substance, or acting inappropriately while under the influence of the substance (i.e. public intoxication, or driving while impaired). Even though she was technically in possession of the substance when she used it, it's very likely that the statute of limitations has long passed, and even if it hadn't her mere admission couldn't do much. People admit to things they haven't actually done all the time.