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A resident of North Dakota named Jessica Beske was pulled over last month while driving in Minnesota, and now she is staring down the barrel of up to 30 years in prison after cops say they found a bong that tested positive for liquid meth in her vehicle.
The 34-year-old from Fargo was pulled over by Polk County sheriff's deputies on May 8th in northwestern Minnesota. According to court documents obtained by the Minnesota Reformer, the deputies claim they smelled weed coming from Beske's ride, which prompted them to search the vehicle.
Inside, the cops allege they uncovered a bong with liquid containing meth, plus a jar holding some crystals and a stash of pipes. Despite Beske insisting the stuff was just paraphernalia, she got slapped with a first-degree controlled substance possession charge.
"Minnesota law allows drug paraphernalia," Beske stated in a court filing NBC News obtained. She added, "I had three pieces of paraphernalia that tested for meth residue."
While the state did decriminalize residue-containing paraphernalia in 2022, they left a law on the books treating any liquid meth as an illegal controlled substance. A first-degree possession conviction could mean 30 years in the slammer plus a $1 million fine for Beske.
"It's against common sense," Beske told the Minnesota Reformer regarding the charges against her. "It's against everybody's common sense."
In her filing, Beske requested that her vehicle and casino winnings taken during the arrest be returned, claiming they aren't subject to being seized. Representatives for the Polk County prosecutor's office and sheriff's department were mum when asked for comment.
The case has reignited debate around Minnesota's drug laws and enforcement approaches. Critics argue that charging Beske with felony possession over residue amounts to an overly punitive response that criminalizes addiction. However, law enforcement officials counter that strict enforcement helps disrupt the methamphetamine trade plaguing many communities.
As Beske's case proceeds through the legal system, her situation underscores the nuances involved in updating drug statutes and the real-world impacts even trace amounts of illegal substances can carry. What consequences, if any, she will ultimately face remain to be determined by the court.
