Laurel, MD Drug Lawyer
Being accused of a drug offense in Maryland can be intimidating, with the lengthy list of potential charges and harsh penalties that accompany them. Maryland takes drug-related offenses very seriously, and if you are facing a drug charge, you will need the help of one of our experienced Laurel, MD drug lawyers.
While some drug charges carry more severe penalties than others, even those persons facing lower-level drug offenses in Maryland can benefit from working with a Laurel criminal defense attorney.
Common Types of Drug Charges in Maryland
Drug charges in Maryland depend on the type and amount of controlled substance involved, whether the offense included a minor, and whether the offense was allegedly a part of a larger criminal enterprise or involved violence.
Common drug charges can include possessing, distributing, selling, manufacturing, and importing controlled substances, as well as using a weapon during a drug trafficking crime, using a minor to further a drug crime, or engaging in a drug offense near a school or other place where minors tend to congregate. Being classified as a so-called “drug kingpin,” or a very high-volume drug dealer who handles large quantities of controlled substances are also serious potential drug charges.
Regardless of what type of drug-related offense you are accused of, your Laurel, MD drug attorney can assess the strength of the evidence against you, determine whether any defenses for your alleged conduct apply, and fight to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
Drug Offense Penalties in Maryland
Drug penalties in Maryland can be quite severe even for lower-level offenses, ranging from up to four years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance other than marijuana to up to twenty years in prison and $25,000 in fines for felony possession of a schedule 1 or 2 substance.
Prior drug-related convictions can bring about heightened penalties. If you have a previous drug charge, it is especially important to have an experienced Laurel, MD drug lawyer by your side throughout the legal process you are facing, in order to protect your rights.
These enhanced and mandatory minimum penalties continue to increases with each subsequent drug-related conviction. For instance, a fourth felony offense involving a schedule 1 or 2 substance carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines. In addition, using certain types of firearms during the commission of a drug offense can double the mandatory minimum penalties making it imperative a drug lawyer in Maryland is contacted as soon as possible.
Marijuana Offenses in Maryland
Marijuana possession remains illegal in Maryland, though the court takes certain “mitigating circumstances” –such as if a person uses marijuana to treat a debilitating medical condition or is a caregiver for such a person – into account.
The penalties for illegal marijuana possession depend on whether you are accused of having more or less than 10 grams of marijuana and can include up to one year in prison and up to $1000 in fines. Your Laurel, MD drug lawyer can present evidence of mitigating factors to the court on your behalf and can ask the court for reduced penalties or dismissed charges.
Consult an Experienced Laurel, MD Drug Lawyer
No matter what type of drug charges you are facing or how severe the penalties may be, working with an experienced Laurel drug lawyer is the first step you can take toward clearing your name and moving forward with your life.
Our MD drug attorneys have experience fighting passionately on behalf of clients with prior drug-related convictions, and those who have never previously been charged with a drug offense.
