Drug possession charges are serious criminal charges that can carry significant, life-altering, penalties and consequences for accused individuals. As a result, anyone facing drug charges should be prepared to respond with a strong criminal defense strategy.
Drug possession refers to illegally possessing illegal controlled substances including marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD and heroin. It can also be illegal to illegally possess and distribute prescription drugs. To prove a drug possession charge, prosecutors must show that that accused individual was knowingly in possession of, or had control over, the illegal drug and that the accused individual knew that the drug was an illegal controlled substance.
Drug charges can carry steep consequences for accused individuals. Accused individuals can face incarceration and steep fines, in additional to a criminal record and other potential penalties and consequences associated with drug charges. The potential penalties and consequences can increase as the drug charges increase from possession charges to drug distribution or trafficking charges. Based on the circumstances, such as if the accused individual is also allegedly in possession of drug paraphernalia related to drug trafficking such as large amounts of cash, baggies or scales, the accused individual may wind up facing drug trafficking charges.
Because so much is on the line when an accused individual is facing drug charges, they should be familiar with criminal defense options available to them and how to assert their criminal defense rights. This can include the development of a criminal defense strategy based on the situation they are facing to help protect them from the penalties and consequences they are facing.
