Kent County Drug Lawyer

Drug laws enforced in Kent County are severe. Lawmakers faced with mounting public pressure keep increasing penalties and some are now mandatory. Repeat offenders or those charged with distribution can face life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.

The circumstances involved in a drug arrest can make a tremendous difference in how the offense is viewed and treated under the law. That is why if you have been charged with a crime involving drugs of any type, it is vital to speak with a knowledgeable defense attorney as soon as possible.

A Kent County drug lawyer with experience handling a wide variety of cases will understand how the laws apply to your situation and can provide counsel on the way to proceed to reach the best possible outcome.

Michigan laws classify different drugs into five separate categories with different penalties applicable to each. These substances are listed on schedules and they are grouped together based on their legitimate use versus the potential for abuse.

Schedule I substances are classified as the most dangerous since they serve no lawful medical purposes and carry great potential for abuse. Some of the drugs included on Schedule I include:

• Heroin
• LSD
• Ecstasy
• Mushrooms
• Peyote
• GHB

The substances in Schedule II are similarly dangerous with great potential for abuse, but they are not treated quite the same under the law because they have been approved in the U.S. for some lawful medical use. Schedule II drugs include:

• Methamphetamines
• Oxycodone
• Morphine
• Hydrocodone
• Cocaine
• Opium
• Methadone
• Marijuana (in certain circumstances)

The substances listed in Schedules III, IV, and V carry a lower risk of dependency and abuse, but will still be treated as illegal drugs if distributed or used improperly. These schedules include drugs such as the steroid Ketamine, Valium, and cough syrup with Codeine.

Kent County drug laws treat possession of controlled substances more leniently than distribution or sale of such substances. Even the “intent to distribute” is prosecuted more harshly than simple possession of a substance. What many people do not understand is that often the intent to distribute is inferred simply based on the amount of the substance found in an individual’s possession. Thus, in effect, possession of a certain quantity actually turns the offense into the more serious crime of “possession with intent to distribute.”

The more of the substance found in individual’s possession, the greater the penalty. For example, a conviction for possession of marijuana carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. If it appears that an individual has enough to warrant a charge of manufacturing, distributing or possessing with intent to distribute, the penalties escalate as follows:

• For amounts up to 5 kilograms or 20 plants, up to four years imprisonment and a fine of up to $20,000
• For amounts between 5 and 45 kilograms or 20-200 plants, up to seven years imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000
• For amounts over 45 kilograms or 200 plants, up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10.000,000

With severe penalties, mandatory sentencing, and complicating factors such as confusing local laws and additional penalties applicable in locations such as parks, it is essential for those charged with drug offenses to work with an attorney who has a thorough understanding of all the laws and the most effective defense strategies.

When you meet with a Kent County drug lawyer, your attorney can start right away to help work toward the optimum outcome in your case. Call now to get started.