Cumming Drug Crimes Lawyer Fighting to Protect the Legal Rights of Clients

There are many types of drug crimes you could be accused of in this state, and while they range in severity, they should all be taken seriously. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony charge, you will likely be expected to pay fines and possibly spend time in jail.

That’s why it’s important to hire a drug crimes lawyer in Cumming as soon as you’re charged. Our legal team has handled cases ranging from possession to trafficking. If you want the chance to avoid a serious conviction going on your criminal record, come to Carl Chapman P.C. for help defending yourself from drug charges. Contact our team today.

What Are the Drug Charges You Might Get in Georgia?

This state recognizes that there are some important distinctions between different activities involving drugs. For instance, someone who buys a small amount of controlled substances to ingest will face different charges than someone who buys and transports a large amount to sell. These activities are categorized and punished differently.

In particular, these are the drug charges you might face in this state, depending on the amount of drugs the police find on you:

Possession
Intent to distribute or sell
Manufacturing
Trafficking

Most drug crimes in this state are felonies, with the exception of possession of a small amount of marijuana, which is a misdemeanor. As such, you face harsh penalties if you’re convicted of any of these drug crimes. If you want the opportunity to get help defending yourself against these charges, contact our Cumming law firm today.

How Are Controlled Substances Categorized in Georgia?

The severity of your drug charges will depend on the amount you’re caught with, what you planned to do with it, and the type of substance it is. In fact, this state divides substances into these five categories:

Schedule I: Drugs that have no medicinal value and are often abused, including heroin, ecstasy, LSD, marijuana, and mushrooms.
Schedule II: Drugs with some medicinal value but are often abused, including cocaine, opium, codeine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and hydrocodone.
Schedule III: Drugs with an accepted medical use and lower chance of abuse, including anabolic steroids, ketamine, and buprenorphine.
Schedule IV: Prescription drugs with an accepted medical use and lower chance of abuse or dependence, including Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan.
Schedule V: Prescription drugs with an accepted medical use and low potential for abuse or dependence, including cough medicines that have a very low dose of narcotics.

In most cases, Schedule I and II drugs lead to the most serious penalties. But no matter which substances your charges involve, you should get legal help from our skilled drug crimes lawyer for a chance to avoid conviction.

What Are Some Drug Crime Penalties You Might Face?

The penalties for drug charges vary depending on what schedule drug you were caught with and how much you had. In general, possession of 1 ounce of marijuana is the lightest drug charge in this state, as it’s a misdemeanor that comes with a maximum of 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $1,000. But if you have more than 1 ounce of marijuana, your punishment can go up to 1 to 10 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines for this felony.

On the other hand, if you’re accused of trafficking a Schedule I drug, such as heroin, you could be penalized by up to 25 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Your drug crimes lawyer will tell you what penalties you’re facing for your specific charges.

How Can a Cumming Drug Crimes Lawyer Help?

Now that you know the penalties for a conviction, you can see how important it is to hire a lawyer to represent you instead of just pleading guilty right away. You never know what kind of defense angle a legal professional will come up with for your case, giving you a chance for the charges to be reduced or dropped altogether.

To find out the right defense option for your drug crimes case, call our law office at 470-206-2169. Our caring legal team will let you know what to expect when it comes to possible defense angles, penalties, and other details.