Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Maryland

My roomates do illegal drugs in a communal area of the house. Although I to not partake, could I be charged if for some reason the cops came in our house and saw the drugs? What if the drugs are done in their rooms behind closed doors?


Asked on 7/11/11, 4:32 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Phillip M. Cook Cook Legal Services, LLC

You are putting yourself at great risk by living with people who drugs in the communal area of the house. You don't have to partake to be arrested for possession of the drug. If there's enough drugs found, you could also be charged with intent to distribute, which carries higher criminal charges. You could also be charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs, which you really don't want. During a drug raid, the police are often not interested in determining who the drugs belong to before they make an arrest -- they let the lawyers and courts figure that out.

If the drugs are only done in your roomate's rooms behind closed doors, it makes it a little easier for you prove that you were not involved, but again, you can still be arrested and left to convince a judge/jury that you were not involved. Moreover, if you rent your house, and drugs/drug use is discovered by your landlord on his own (or because someone in the house is arrested), it is likely a default under your lease and may give the landlord cause to kick you out on the street.

You need to find some new roommates.

Best of luck.*****The above is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client privilege.******

Read more
Answered on 7/13/11, 12:04 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Maryland