Prevalence of paraphernalia charges show conflict between harm reduction, law enforcement

Prevalence of paraphernalia charges show conflict between harm reduction, law enforcement

FARGO — Last Wednesday morning was a typically busy one at the Cass County Courthouse. Judge Stephen McCullough had 26 scheduled hearings to get through during the 90-minute, 9 a.m. calendar block. Nearly half of the cases before him included a specific felony charge: unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. About halfway through the session, Leroy Manning's case was called. Manning, 37, is no stranger to the courtroom, having been convicted i…