A Drug Arrest Needs a Good Defense

A Drug Arrest Needs a Good Defense

Millions of people have experimented with illegal drugs. Out of these millions, some are arrested and charged with the crime of possession. If you have been arrested and charged for a drug offense, a good defense attorney can make all the difference in the world. It may even be the difference between freedom and prison.

Possession

Possession of a controlled substance means more than having drugs or drug paraphernalia on your person. If you have been charged, the prosecution must prove three things:

That you (defendant) possessed the substance That you knew the substance in possession was illicit That the substance was illegal

Furthermore, the judge and the jury will look at several things, including:

Your proximity to the drugs when they were found Your ownership of the place (home, bedroom, car) where the drugs were found Proof that you used the drugs

Punishment

Punishment of drug possession varies from state to state and depends on the amount of drugs found. A quarter bag of marijuana is going to be treated much differently than a pound of marijuana. If you have baggies nearby, it can be argued that you were intending to distribute, or sell, the drugs, even if there are no drugs found in or on the baggies.

In Maryland, for example, the first offense for possession of marijuana, or marijuana paraphernalia, can be up to 00 fine or a year in prison. Possession of other drugs, or drug paraphernalia, can be a maximum of ,000 and four years in prison.

An experienced drug offense attorney can keep you from prison, pay a minimum fine, or even see the charges dismissed. By poking holes in the prosecution’s case and raising a reasonable amount of doubt, a drug offense attorney can be the best solution to making sure you get through this part of your life.

A drug offense attorney can help you even if possession has been proven. He can get the charges reduced in exchange for you entering a drug treatment program or diversion program, providing you complete the program.

If you are arrested for drugs, one of the first things to do is contact an attorney to help you understand the charges against you and make sure you know there is someone that is on your side.