Prince George’s County Drug Charges
Drug laws, especially in Prince George’s County are quite weighted to ensure the health and safety of the community. As a result, Prince George’s County drug charges can vary in their severity depending on what drug an individual is caught with and whether it is their first offense or not. The guidance of a skilled drug attorney is instrumental when trying to assemble a defense.
Drug Possession and Other Drug Charges in Prince George’s County
There are three main Prince George’s County drug charges. There is possession, possession with intent to distribute, and, distribution. Drug possession, distribution, and manufacturing are charged in Prince George County under numerous circumstances. Possession is the most common. Anyone, such as a student, restaurant worker or a professional could be charged with a drug possession.
Common Charges
Possession is the most common. Anyone, such as a student, restaurant worker or a professional could be charged with a drug possession. Drug possession does not necessarily have to be what many think of as street drugs, such as heroin or crack; it could also be prescriptions.
People share prescriptions all the time. It does not necessarily have to be anything nefarious. It could be a college student that gets some Adderall from a friend. It could be individuals just partying for the weekend and have some recreational drugs.
As far as distribution manufacturing, those are far more serious, and typically consists of individuals who distribute, sell and/or share any type of drug. Those who distribute and manufacture are the source of the users and those who possess it so they are pursued more aggressively.
Prescription Drug Charges
One of the most common scenarios in which someone is charged with a prescription drug offense is when an innocent individual has a medical prescription for sometimes as much as hundred pills in a large bottle. Street value for prescription pills can range from $20 to $30 a piece.
Carrying around a full bottle of pills is literally carrying around thousands of dollars of street-level, street-value drugs. That can be dangerous, especially if people see it so, many times, people put it in a key file or in a small container or in a small baggie or some tinfoil so they can carry just a few at a time without lugging around a huge bottle or running the risk of someone trying to steal it.
The problem with this scenario is, by law, an individual is required to have prescriptions in the original bottle. People can be charged and if they cannot provide proof of the prescription at that time, they could be arrested, charged and the drugs seized. That is a very common scenario as well as simply individuals just looking to purchase prescription pills for recreational use or to stabilize or self-diagnose a presumed medical condition.
Self-Diagnosis and Self-Medicating
An individual may not feel good and they want to get some Xanax or some anti-depressants or they may have discomforts with old injuries so they get some Percocet, OxyContin or Oxycodone that they may otherwise have been able to obtain if they went to a doctor. If they do not have insurance and cannot afford to see a doctor, they many times will resort to buying on the street.
Determining the Severity Of the Drug Charge
The nature of the drug itself is a deterring factor. Marijuana is a much lesser offense and carries low potential penalties than, obviously, pretty much any other narcotic, drug or prescription. The nature of the Prince George’s County drug charges conveys the severity of it. Possession is a misdemeanor that carries only a few years’ incarceration maximum whereas distribution or possession with intent, depending on the type of drug, can carry upwards of 20 years.
Benefit of a Lawyer
When trying to defend yourself against Prince George’s County drug charges, the help of a knowledgeable local attorney is a valuable asset. A lawyer who is familiar with local drug charges and policies, can us that knowledge to help build your case. Furthermore, their familiarity with the local court system also means they can try and use defense strategies that are applicable to your case and are likely to work.