Ann Arbor Drug Crime Lawyers

Any unauthorized possession or use of a controlled dangerous substance is a drug crime. Drug crimes can be charged at the federal or state level. Whether an offense is charged at the state or federal level is determined by a few factors, such as where the alleged offense occurred and whether it involved moving illegal drugs between states or across United States borders.

When you are facing a drug charge, you are facing criminal penalties that can be quite extensive, such as years in prison. Work with an experienced Ann Arbor drug crime defense lawyer to fight your charge and have it potentially downgraded or dismissed.

Types of Drug Crime

As mentioned above, any unauthorized possession or other involvement with a controlled dangerous substance is a drug crime. Drug offenses include:

• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance;
• Manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance;
• Selling or distributing a controlled dangerous substance; and
• Transporting a controlled dangerous substance.

In some cases, a drug offense occurs alongside another criminal offense. For example, forging a doctor’s signature on a prescription for an opioid is an act of prescription fraud as well as a drug offense.

Charges and Penalties for Drug Crimes

A drug offense can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the type of charge, the type of drug allegedly involved, and the amount of the drug allegedly possessed, sold, or trafficked. Additionally, any previous drug convictions on your criminal record can affect how an offense is charged. Within the misdemeanor and felony categories, drug offenses can be charged at a variety of degrees. Because there is such great variation in how drug offenses can be charged, there is a wide range of penalties you may face if convicted. These penalties include fines, jail time, and probation with varying degrees of severity.

Some individuals facing drug charges are eligible for Washtenaw County’s Drug Treatment Court. Through this program, individuals can receive treatment for their addictions through supervised programs that can help them avoid convictions and criminal penalties.

Defending Your Case Against an Ann Arbor Drug Charge

There are many different ways to fight a drug charge. The right way for you to fight your charge depends on the circumstances of your case. Your defense strategy could involve one or more of the following:

• You had a legitimate prescription for the drugs you possessed;
• The drugs did not belong to you;
• The evidence used to support your charge was obtained illegally;
• There is no actual evidence to support a drug charge against you. This could mean that the substance recovered is not actually a controlled dangerous substance or that the substance is gone; and
• The drugs were planted in order to support a charge against you.

Work with an Experienced Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing a drug charge, be proactive and start working on your case’s defense strategy with an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Contact our team at The Law Offices of Bradley J. Friedman today to set up your free consultation in our office.