Drug crimes defense serving Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County

California drug possession laws

In the state of California, depending on the type of drug crime you are accused of, you may face misdemeanor or felony charges.

Some of the drugs that are illegal and are considered to be a controlled substance or narcotic by the State of California and the United States government include:

• cocaine
• marijuana
• LSD
• ecstasy
• methamphetamine
• heroin
• PCP

Also, in some instances, drug crimes may even involve legal or illegal prescription drugs.

A drug crime is a very serious offense and can have dire consequences if you are convicted. You could be facing anywhere from up to a year in jail to a lifetime behind bars, including:

• fines
• probation
• community service
• counseling
• parole

It’s absolutely critical that you hire a criminal defense attorney. Doing so may allow you to avoid severe penalties and can also allow for the possibility of alternative sentencing set forth by California Penalty Code 1000 and/or 1210.1.

Did your drug arrest involve being under the influence while driving? This can have serious implications on your:

• driving privileges
• ability to obtain work
• long-term insurance rate increases

In the state of California, driving under the influence of drugs is punishable under the same laws as alcohol, and is prosecuted as a DUI charge.

The following are considered drug crimes in California:

• Under the Influence
• Cultivation
• Sale
• Distribution
• Importation
• Manufacturing
• Possession
• Possession for Sale
• Trafficking

Often, when imposing penalties for a drug crimes case, a judge will look at whether or not your drug crime involved children, whether you have prior offenses and whether any other misdemeanor or felony crimes were committed.

If these apply, you can expect to receive enhancement penalties when receiving your sentence. An enhancement penalty is a harsher penalty for your actions and can add time to your sentence.

As a former prosecutor who’s handled literally thousands of drug cases, I’m very familiar with all areas of California drug laws and drug crimes.

If you’ve been arrested for a drug crime, you need someone on your side who will fight aggressively for your future. Contact me today to schedule a consultation.

Local: (714) 242-1223
Toll Free: 1-855-4JPV LAW or (855) 457-8529