Drugs may appear everywhere in media and entertainment, but the government still has a strong stance against them. Drugs include any controlled substance for which a person does not have a prescription. This means that a drug may be legal for one person while illegal for others.
Given the risks associated with a conviction, you should be careful if your friends or family possess or distribute controlled substances. Sometimes just being around a person can make you appear liable.
If the police have accused you of involvement with drugs or you believe they may suspect you, seek out an aggressive defense attorney. You may find that you have rights and protections about which you did not know. It may be possible to get ahead of the problem if you deal with it quickly.
Speak with a Leesburg drug lawyer to learn more about your rights. An accomplished defense attorney could help you understand the legal process and what you can expect going forward.
The Code of Virginia prohibits people from making, selling, giving, distributing or possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, as noted in §18.2-248. The punishment for possession of a Schedule I or II drug is five to 40 years of jail and a fine of no more than $500,000. If a person commits a second offense, the court can send that person to jail for up to life in prison.
If the person possesses a large number of certain drugs, which could include heroin or cocaine, the punishment may be a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison and a fine of no more than $1 million. If a person manufactures methamphetamines, the minimum sentence is ten years and up to life in prison, plus up to $500,000 in fines. As a Leesburg drug lawyer could explain, the individual will also be responsible for cleaning up any building that belongs to another that the manufacturer used to create the meth.
If a person violates the law in regards to schedule III substances, except for steroids, that is a Class 5 felony. If the person possesses or distributes a schedule IV drug, that is a Class 6 felony. When the police catch a person with a Schedule V drug, that is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which typically means that person will not face more than one year in jail.
If a person only possesses a Schedule I or II drug, that is a Class 5 felony, as described in Code of Virginia §18.2-250. Possession of all other controlled substances is different levels of misdemeanors.
No matter which type of drug crime a person is accused, a seasoned Leesburg attorney could provide legal support.
If a person brings an ounce or more of a Schedule I or II drug, or five pounds or more of marijuana, that is a felony. If the court convicts a person, the court must send that person to prison for at least five years and up to 40, with a fine of no more than $1 million, as found in Code of Virginia §18.2-248.01. Given the steep fines and harsh jail times related to drug transportation charges in Leesburg, individuals should speak with an adept defense attorney when building their defense.
A drug charge could have severe consequences for your life. Make sure you do your best to protect yourself from any adverse outcomes. Enlisting the aid of an aggressive and knowledgeable attorney may tip the scales in your favor. At the least, you may learn about possible defenses available to you and what you can expect as the process moves forward.
Schedule an appointment with a Leesburg drug lawyer today to set your mind at risk and get a handle on your situation.
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