Drug Crimes
Almost all drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, or drug possession charges are felonies. They are serious offenses and if you have been charged with a felony drug offense you will need a highly skilled criminal defense lawyer on your side. However, possession of marijuana in an amount less than 100 grams is a minor misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia is also a misdemeanor. Although these cases may appear less threatening, it is important to keep in mind that a conviction of any drug offense comes with an automatic 6 month driver's license suspension and may prohibit you from lawfully owning a firearm.
The defense of crimes of this nature varies widely with the charge. Because of the serious consequences involved, each drug defense must be tailored to the specific facts of the case. Often, however, there exist constitutional defenses involving vehicle stops or the issuance and execution of search warrants, defenses surrounding the involvement of the police, questions concerning the identification and measuring of the drug involved, and defenses associated with surveillance or confidential informant issues. All of these should be carefully considered and evaluated in preparing the appropriate defense strategy.