Atlanta Drug Crimes Attorney Assisting You with Your Misdemeanor or Felony Drug Charge

Drug crimes are one of the most commonly charged crimes in Georgia and in the United States. How serious the consequences might be depends on many factors. Some drug crimes are classified as misdemeanors, and others are classified as felonies. What kinds of drugs are involved and in what amount, as well as what activity is being alleged to have happened will determine the level of the charges you are faced with. Georgia, however, has some of the toughest drug laws of any state, and even a small amount of marijuana in your possession can lead to heavy fines and jail time of up to a year. For drugs such as narcotics, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, among others, the penalties can be much greater. Possessing a drug is serious, but in most cases selling, delivering, or distributing the drug has a harsher penalty. Even having the intent to sell, deliver, or distribute illegal drugs can carry harsh punishments. If you have been accused of a drug crime, your future is at stake. An accomplished drug crime lawyer from Sessoms Law Office, LLC can guide you through the legal system and help you get to the best possible outcome. Call our Atlanta office today at 678-853-7402.

What Are the Possible Penalties for Misdemeanor Drug Charges in Georgia?

There are only a very few drug charges that are misdemeanors in Georgia. Examples include the possession of drug paraphernalia, or the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. If law enforcement thinks it can prove that you intended to sell, distribute, or deliver the marijuana, even in this small amount, the charge can be raised to a felony. If you are charged with a drug misdemeanor, the penalties could be as severe as incarceration up to 12 months, a fine of up to $1000, or both. Clearly, these penalties can disrupt your life, possibly affecting your job, your finances, and your relationships. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney when you are charged with any drug crime, no matter how small, is a smart idea.

What Constitutes Felony Drug Charges in Georgia?

Georgia classifies drugs other than marijuana into 5 schedules. The most serious penalties are for crimes involving Schedule I and Schedule II drugs. Schedule I includes drugs that have no medical use, such as heroin, LSD, mushrooms, and ecstasy, for example. Schedule II drugs are those that have medicinal uses but are not legal without a prescription, such as narcotics like opium or hydrocodone, methamphetamine, and cocaine, for example. Schedule III is for steroids, Schedule IV is for Xanax and Valium, and Schedule V is for other prescription drugs that have varying levels of the potential for abuse. Possession of over 1 ounce of marijuana is a felony in Georgia, as is the possession of any amount of drugs on Schedules I-V.

What Are the Possible Penalties for Felony Drug Charges in Georgia?

Possession of over one ounce of marijuana is punishable by a 1-10 year prison sentence, with one year as a mandatory minimum, and up to a $5000 fine. If you are convicted of the intent to distribute any drug or of cultivating a drug, including marijuana, the penalty will depend on the amount of the drug you had in your possession, with the highest penalty at 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A drug crime conviction for selling or intending to distribute any drug within 1000 feet of a drug-free zone, a school, a park, or a housing project, the mandatory minimum sentence is 5 years in jail, with the possibility of up to 40 years, and fines up to $40,000. As you can see, the penalties for drug crimes in Georgia are harsh. To protect your future, your reputation, your job, and your family relationships, you need the best defense possible. Call Sessoms Law Group, LLC today at 678-853-7402. Our accomplished drug crime lawyers are ready to help.

How Can a Drug Crime Defense Lawyer Help in My Drug Crime Case?

Experienced criminal defense attorneys have the knowledge and skill to help you plan a legal defense strategy. With the help of accomplished legal counsel, your drug crime case can come to the best outcome possible, with the least possible damage to your finances, your reputation, and your freedom. Call Sessoms Law Group today to get started.