What are the consequences of a felony drug possession charge?

Possession of drugs, the illegal kind, may either go down on the charge sheet as a misdemeanor or a felony. Obviously a felony is a much more severe charge with severe consequences. So what exactly are the factors that determine whether a drug possession charge will be prosecuted as a felony or a misdemeanor?

Criminal defense lawyers tell us that there are several factors which determine the severity of a drug possession charge. Sometimes, irrespective of the amount of it being carried, possession of a few specific drugs will result in a felony charge without fail.

These are of course drugs that are more addictive and devastating to the individual and the society itself as a whole. Another reason why a drug possession charge can be escalated to a felony is if the possessor is in or around the proximity of a school.

Lastly, when it is determined that the quantity of the drug or drugs in possession is larger than a certain amount (this amount varies from drug to drug and from state to state) then the suspect will be slapped with a felony (intent to sell) say criminal defense lawyers. Have you seen the show Breaking Bad?

When you have bags of crystal meth in plastic bags in your home, you are probably not going to consume all of that yourself. And if you have a partner like Walter White who wants to sell, sell, sell, then it is obvious you are in the illegal commercial drug business. Though many people these types of drugs should be legalized so the big money stops going to bad people. Other people believe that the biggest drug dealer is Coors and Budweiser but that is another topic too.

http://criminal-defense.usattorneys.com/ - Walter White did not use this website when he needed a legal representative since Jesse introduced him to Saul Goodman and this fascinating digital tool did not exist then. Why drive around if you do not have to though? Some of the best legal professionals in the country are on this site.

The charge for driving under the influence of drugs will also depend on various factors.

However, the points mentioned here are generalized for the country as a whole. The exact laws and regulations may vary slightly depending on your state. If you need to know the laws in effect in your particular state then we strongly urge you to reach out to a criminal defense attorney licensed to practice in your state as he or she will be able to educate and protect you against these charges by helping you build a strong, strategic defense.

How are drugs classified?

You may have heard terms such as a schedule I drug and schedule II drug. These refer to a group of drugs categorized by their impact in terms of addictiveness, destructiveness, and other related factors.  These schedules were introduced by the Federal Controlled Substances Act and have since been adopted by various state governments also.

There are five schedules, namely, schedule I, schedule II, schedule III, schedule IV, and schedule V. Schedule I contains drugs such as heroin and crystal meth which are highly addictive while schedule V drugs are those that belong in the other end of the spectrum which while still harmful are not considered as dangerous say criminal defense lawyers.

Therefore the type or schedule that the drug belongs to will determine if a felony will be filed or if a misdemeanor charge will entail. In most states, possession of a schedule I narcotic will be a felony crime.

What to do if charged with drug possession?

Even a misdemeanor drug possession charge can really impact a person’s life negatively. Employers are without a doubt hesitant to hire someone that has such a reputation. A felony on the other hand will come with consequences such as prison time, hefty fines, mandatory drug rehabilitation, and probation. Therefore, it is imperative that you hire a criminal defense lawyer and get started working on a defense to beat your charges.