There is a fine line between legal and illegal drugs. While you may think that using or buying a legal drug will protect you from criminal charges, this may not be true.
The U.S. Department of Justice explains that drugs you can legally buy can become illegal if you do not adhere to the law when obtaining the drug or using it. For example, it is illegal to use or buy a prescription drug when you do not have a valid prescription for it. Even if you do have a valid prescription, if you obtained it through nefarious means, then it becomes an illegal action. Furthermore, there are many legal drugs that are not legal to use in specific ways, which can lead to criminal trouble.
Commonly abused legal drugs
Some legal drugs that you may not think of as leading to criminal charges include alcohol and tobacco. Both have age limits and complex regulations. If you are an underage user, for example, you might face criminal charges for buying or using these drugs.
However, the most commonly abused legal drugs that could lead to criminal trouble are opioids and other similar prescription drugs. These drugs are regularly prescribed, but if you try to get a prescription through deceptive means, then you could face charges.
Just as risky
One thing that may lead to the use of legal drugs is the assumption that because a drug is legal that it means it is safe. This is not true. Legal drugs just have oversight and regulations to help ensure proper use of them whereas illegal drugs do not. Any type of drug, regardless of its status, can be dangerous.