From ADHD to Prison: How a Common Medication Landed a Father in Federal Court
In a shocking revelation, the case of Ryan Brandstrom highlights a terrifying flaw in federal drug laws. Brandstrom, a non-violent father of five, faces severe charges for possessing Adderall, a common ADHD medication. The prosecution's approach, marked by a raid and an ambush, exposes the dark underbelly of the legal system's handling of controlled substances.
Adderall, scientifically known as amphetamine, is treated with the same draconian severity as methamphetamine under current guidelines, leading to a proposed sentence of 108 months for Brandstrom. This legal equivalence is mind-boggling, as Adderall is widely accepted for enhancing productivity, not for its criminal potential.
Despite its medical legitimacy, under the current federal guidelines, it is punished with the same severity as methamphetamine, a drug infamous for its devastating societal impact.
The public's ignorance of this legal trap is alarming. Even legal experts were initially misled, with Prosecutor Bradley Endicott misinforming Brandstrom's defense about mandatory minimums. This confusion reveals a chilling lack of transparency in the law, where even professionals are caught in its complexity.
Brandstrom's case is a haunting example of how the law can ensnare individuals with routine medications, turning them into criminals overnight. It's a stark reminder of the need for legal clarity, where the punishment should reflect public understanding, not just legal technicalities.
Prosecutor Bradley Endicott initially misinformed Brandstrom's defense, Michael Colich, about a mandatory minimum sentence for amphetamine, a mistake that went uncorrected for 10 months until Brandstrom's own research brought the error to light.
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