We have experience defending clients against drug charges involving:

• Marijuana: growing operations, possession or intent to sell
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamines
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
• Drug conspiracy charges (cases involving wiretaps, confidential informants)
• Drug distribution
• Drug possession with intent to sell
• Prescription drugs
• Gang activity and weapons charges
• Drug transportation

California leads the nation for arrests of individuals possessing a controlled substance. A controlled substance is defined as illegal drugs that are classified by the government as being dangerous. According to the California Department of Corrections, of 160,000 prisoners, 20,000 are in jail or prison due to a drug offense. Drug possession typically goes hand in hand with drug sales. The drugs for which people are commonly arrested are: cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, PCP, heroin, LSD and ecstasy.

Oftentimes, if drugs are found in your possession you may be charged by law enforcement with drug sales (possession with intent to sell) as well, even if the drugs were for your own personal use. The differences in the charges that can be brought against you for drug crimes are extreme. You could be looking at a drug diversion program or a lifetime behind bars. Penalties for a drug charge are based on the type and amount of drug in your possession, intent to sell, or distribute, your past criminal arrests and the circumstances surrounding your case.

You don’t even need to sell drugs to be charged with selling drugs or drug possession. Certain police officers have been known to allege the sale of drugs just because there is a large amount of drugs involved and/or the drugs that are found are packaged separately. Remember, however, just because you are arrested for a crime doesn’t mean that your guilt can be proven or that you are even guilty. There are defenses that a good criminal defense attorney can come up with. Search and seizure issues might even be a factor in determining your guilt or lack thereof.

The number and kinds of illegal drugs involved can determine the seriousness of the charges. Another issue to consider is whether the drugs were for sale or intended for personal use. Depending on the evidence found by police, a drug offense might be a misdemeanor or a felony.

Arresting someone over a few ounces of an illegal substance is less serious than someone caught trafficking a few pounds. Whether or not a person has a prior criminal record is also an important factor. A person with a previous record may end up with a severer punishment than someone who is a first-time offender or someone with a very minor criminal record.

Penalties for a drug crime conviction can be serious and can include fines, jail time, prison time, revocation of one’s driver’s license, the seizure of assets, probation, drug treatment, and having to register as a narcotics offender. This is why you must hire an experienced Sacramento criminal defense lawyer right away.

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