Source: http://www.nielsengrouplaw.com/maine-drug-crimes/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:06:24+00:00

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If you are caught growing marijuana in Maine, you will be charged with cultivating marijuana in Maine. Despite changing attitudes towards marijuana, and despite the recent successes of local ordinances in Portland, Maine, and South Portland, Maine, the substance remains an illegal drug in Maine. Without a medical marijuana prescription card, growing marijuana plants can result in a criminal charge for Cultivating Marijuana. Depending upon the number of plants discovered you may be facing severe fines and jail time. The offenses range from a class E misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of a 180 days of jail time and a fine of up to $1000 to a class A felony that has a maximum penalty of 30 years incarceration and a find of up to $50,000. If you are looking to fight a charge of cultivating marijuana in Maine, you likely have some questions and are looking to see if it is possible to avoid a conviction.
Just to share with you my experience, I have handled and achieved successful resolutions to many cultivating marijuana charges all across Maine. When facing a cultivating marijuana in Maine offense, above all, the goal is to avoid the conviction. The State has an expressed interest in enforcing the law against illegal marijuana grows, because they often are used to support larger scale drug trafficking operations. Furthermore, without a lawyer, the District Attorney will not be willing to negotiate with you, due to the fact that the DA believes they can get a conviction at trial. Some District Attorneys offices in Maine have well-known “no negotiation” policies for Drug cases, leaving the Defendant with a stark choice: take a bad deal or go to trial and lose. Therefore, an experienced Maine drug defense lawyer is needed to fight for your rights at court.
If you or someone you know is facing a charge of cultivating marijuana in Maine, I encourage you to contact The Nielsen Group for your free and confidential legal consultation with me, an experienced Maine drug defense attorney. The goal of the discussion is to answer your questions and place your mind at ease. As we talk about the details of your offense at the free consultation, one of things we will go over is drawing a line in the sand. On our side of the line is your future how you want it to be. On the other side of the line is the State of Maine, with their charges, fines and jail time. Also the repercussions a felony or misdemeanor conviction will have on your ability to support your family, maintain a profession, and stay out of jail.
How can a Maine drug defense attorney help fight charges of cultivating Marijuana in Maine?
What to expect without a lawyer representing you.
How is a charge of cultivating marijuana in Maine proven?
What are the fines and penalties if convicted of a cultivating marijuana in Maine Offense?
What are some possible outcomes for of a cultivating Marijuana in Maine charge?
What is the Maine Court Process for handling allegations of cultivating Marijuana?
If you are a medical marijuana patient or caregiver, and you are growing the legal number of plants, the charge for Cultivation can get thrown out. With a medical marijuana prescription card, the State permits growing up to five (5) marijuana plants for personal use. If you are a licensed caregiver, in addition to the five plants for your personal use, you can grow marijuana on behalf of the individuals for whom you are licensed to grow marijuana.
A criminal defense lawyer can challenge the State’s evidence. Typically marijuana grows are well concealed from the public. When they are found by law enforcement, it is usually the result of a search based off of an informant’s tip. The best practice is for law enforcement to obtain a warrant for the search. If there was a search done without a warrant, your rights may have been violated. If a warrant was secured, some issues a criminal defense attorney should look into is whether there was adequate probable case for the warrant. These are just a few possible issues of many.
A criminal defense lawyer can advocate aggressively for your rights. As a criminal defendant, you have the right to a trial, whether a trial in front of a judge or a trial in front of a jury. A criminal defense attorney can exploit you right to cross examine your accuser. Your criminal defense lawyer can advocate for your interests both before trial by negotiating a favorable resolution with the District Attorney and in a trial cross-examining the State’s witnesses.
Often I hear from my clients, that they just simply did not know what to do. An accused may feel that they can work things out with the District Attorney or the Judge, and go to the arraignment date alone. Unfortunately this is often where the accused learn how “by the book” the legal system can be. The District Attorney is not interested in “understanding” your circumstances. In the legal system it is not the Judge’s role to negotiate. Most unrepresented defendants leave the arraignment more worried and concerned, as often the District Attorney will relay the State’s “best” offer; which is for the accused to plead guilty as charged and be sentenced to fines, jail and probation.
How is the charge of cultivating marijuana in Maine proven?
If you have been caught growing marijuana plants and do not have a medical marijuana license, you are considered to be violating the law for cultivating marijuana in Maine. Even if you do have a prescription or are a caregiver, there are strict regulations you must follow, and failure to do so can result in cultivating charges as well. It is the state’s responsibility to prove these charges. The law for cultivating marijuana in Maine is 17-A M.R.S.A. §1117. Let’s look at the facts of the case that the state will need to prove.
A person intentionally or knowingly grows or cultivates Marijuana by a certain number of plants.
Let’s examine closely the specifics of this statement.
Cultivating Marijuan in Main has a state of mind element to the law. The charge takes the accused’s state of mind into consideration whether they were “intentionally or knowingly” growing the marijuana plants. The words intentionally and knowingly have specific meanings in the courts and legal terminology.
Intentionally: An individual acts intentionally when they are aware of their actions and aware of the circumstances which exist. The exact legal definition is a person acts intentionally with respect to a result of the person’s conduct when it is the person’s conscious objective to cause such a result.
Knowingly: An individual acts knowingly with respect to the outcome that the individuals’ conduct will cause such a result.
The key take away point is that the state of mind of the accused is important with proving this charge. It is the prosecution’s responsibility to prove that the accused acted with purpose and was not unaware of the circumstances.
Just as the severity of the charge for Cultivating Marijuana is broad, the penalties are equally broad.
Class E misdemeanor. $1000.00 fine, six months jail time.
Class D misdemeanor. $2000.00 fine, 364 days jail time.
Class C felony. $5,000.00 fine, 5 years jail time.
Class B felony. $20,000.00 fine, 10 years jail time.
Class A felony. $50,000.00 fine, 30 years jail time.
An added concern is that if it can be determined that the accused used their car or truck to facilitate the crimer, the BMV can suspend the accused’s driver’s license for up to five (5) years once convicted of the crime. Furthermore, the State can add a civil forfeiture count to take said vehicle away from you.
Generally, you do not want to plead guilty to any charge without knowing and understanding fully the collateral consequences. However, in some instances you might be able to plead guilty to a less serious charge with less severe penalties. For example, a misdemeanor charge for Cultivating Marijuana might be able to be dismissed in favor of pleading guilty to Possession of Marijuana, or even to admit to a civil violation for marijuana possession, in which there would be a fine only.
A deferred disposition is when the State accepts a guilty plea, and then sentencing is postponed usually for one year. If the defendant exhibits good behavior, and if the defendant meets any other requirements, then the defendant would get the benefit of the plea deal. Common benefits include having the charge dismissed, pleading a lesser charge, or an unconditional discharge. A deferred disposition also has a potential downside. If the defendant does not meet their requirements, or if they get into criminal trouble during their deferred disposition, then the District Attorney can withdraw the plea deal. If there is no plea deal, then you get convicted and sentenced.
After a trial, the judge or jury may find the defendant Not Guilty of the criminal charge. In this case, it would be as though the charge never happened.
After a trial, the judge or jury may find the defendant Guilty of the criminal charge. In this case, the defendant would be convicted and sentenced of the charge.
After a trial, and if the jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision, then a mistrial would be declared by the presiding judge or justice. In this case, a new trial would be necessary.
Across the US, almost 90 percent of defendants when faced with criminal prosecution remain either unrepresented or choose to rely upon the services of the public defender’s office to manage their case. There is overwhelming statistical evidence that private attorneys achieve lower penalties and great probabilities that the charge will be dropped or reduced. Unfortunately cost is often the key reason the accused never even considers the possibilities of hiring a private defense attorney. The question to consider is give the risk to your future and freedom, is the money you save today worth the risk?
I know how to defend clients against cultivating marijuana in Maine charges. If needed, I have experience as a trail lawyer and can fight for you in Court. If you choose to hire the Nielsen group, you are more than another case to us. We will put your interests first and in the end, wouldn’t you agree that is more valuable?
If you are charged with cultivating marijuana in Maine, you will be arrested and depending of the severity of the charge need to have bail set. If you can make bail then you will be assigned a court date for your initial appearance. If you cannot make bail, then you will be held in Jail until you can be brought before the Judge for your initial appearance, most often within 48 hours. At this initial appearance, the Judge will read the charges and assure you understand them. The Judge will not request your plea if you are facing a felony. If bail needs to be readdressed, the court will evaluate that as well at this initial apprearance.
Here is the court process for a Cultivating Marijuana charge in Maine at the Unified Criminal Docket.
Depending on whether the charge is a felony or a misdemeanor, your first court date would be either an Initial Appearance or an Arraignment. If your charge for Cultivating Marijuana is a felony, then your first court date would be an initial appearance. In a felony case, the State is required to indict you by a grand jury before you can be arraigned.
If you charge for Cultivating Marijuana is a misdemeanor, then your first court date would be an Arraignment. By Arraignment the discovery materials (police reports, etc) are made available.
After Arraignment, your next court date at the Unified Criminal Docket is a Dispositional Conference. The purpose of a Dispositional Conference is for criminal defense counsel and the District Attorney to negotiate a potential resolution to the case. If no acceptable resolution is arrived at during the Dispositional Conference, then your case would progress towards pretrial motions and a trial.
If the discovery shows that certain evidence could have been obtained in violation of your constitutional rights, then your criminal defense lawyer would file an appropriate pretrial motion, such as a Motion to Suppress. The purpose of a Pretrial Motion Hearing is to resolve any issues pertaining to the evidence before heading to trial.
A trial is a person’s very public day in court. Often, defendants face the question whether to have a jury trial or a trial in front of a judge. The judge decides cases based on the letter of the law. However, the jury often can see thing from a Defendants point of view and put themselves in your shoes and reach “reasonable doubt”.
What if Marijuana was legal in Maine?
In November 2013, a marijuana ballot initiative passed in Portland, Maine. There is another upcoming marijuana ballot initiative for November 4, 2014. This time, the Marijuana Policy Project is supporting a similar ballot in York, Maine. At this time in York, signatures are being collected to allow the initiative to be put on this year’s ballot for a vote, called the Town of York Recreational Marijuana Legalization Measure.
Allows recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 and older.
Allows adults 21 and older to legally possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia.
Prohibits recreational use if marijuana in public places.
Prohibits adults under 21 and minors from using marijuana.
As per ballotpedia.org, when they asked the Marijuana Policy Director why York, Maine was chosen, it was described that York Maine would be well-located for potential future initiatives in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Given the notoriety of last year’s results, it is possible that we might see the marijuana legalization ballot initiative being put up for a vote this year, and perhaps we might see similar results.
Just like in 2013, it is important to keep in mind that even if this new initiative passes, and despite the fact that the initiative is called a “recreational marijuana legalization measure,” that the legal effect of the initiative would not be to legalize marijuana. While advocates might be seeking complete legalization of pot, the Maine statutes are nowhere near this ideal.
First, the State statute will always supersede local ordinances when it comes to enforcing the law. This means that regardless if the local ordinance says the marijuana is legal, the State says otherwise.
Possession of marijuana up to 2.5 ounces is considered a civil violation. The penalty for a civil violation is a fine only and the violation going on your permanent adult record.
Possession of Marijuana in Maine over 2.5 ounces is considered a criminal charge. The penalties for a criminal charge include potential fines, jail time, along with other potential ordered conditions, such as substance abuse treatment, probation, etc.
Other activities involving marijuana, including selling it (i.e. trafficking), giving it to friends (i.e. furnishing), or growing marijuana plants without a medical marijuana prescription card (i.e. cultivating marijuana), are also considered criminal acts.
Under the ballot initiative York is looking at, the only “change” to the existing law would be to eliminate the type of marijuana possession that would result in a civil violation. Possession of marijuana over 2.5 ounces would still be considered a crime.
What would it take to make marijuana legal in Maine?
If the York ballot passes at the end of this year, there will be a small patchwork of localities in Maine that recognize the recreational use of marijuana as legal, while the overall State law would not recognize marijuana as legal. Notwithstanding Federal Law, the only thing that would make marijuana “legal” in Maine would be for there to be a Statewide initiative and a State government to support and enact such a change in the law. For such an effort, Maine might want to take a look at the implementation process applied in Colorado and Washington State, where marijuana has already been legalized.
While this ballot initiative in York might not trigger a Statewide change in Maine’s State marijuana laws, the ballot initiative might have an overall political impact. Perhaps if the York initiative is passed, and if the voters in the area feel that the new law does not hurt them or the community, then perhaps additional communities would be open to the idea in future similar ballot initiatives.
With Maine Legalizing Marijuana What will the future impacts be?
In Maine, drug trafficking can be charged when there is an “intent” to sell drugs. In other words you can be accused of drug trafficking in Maine without being caught in the act of selling drugs. Let’s say that as a part of determining probable cause, the drug sniffing dogs indicated the vehicle you were driving had drugs. When police search the car they find a sizeable amount of drugs. In this scenario, you can be charged with drug trafficking in Maine due to the quantity of the illegal drug possessed. Legal guidance for drug trafficking in Maine is provided in the Maine Drug trafficking statutes. A person charged with “Drug Trafficking” is facing a serious criminal drug related offense under Maine Law. In addition, most drug trafficking charges are felony level offenses, some of which have a mandatory minimum prison sentences, depending on the quantity and illegal drug in question. The weight of the consequences for a drug trafficking conviction is determined in part by the circumstances of the crime – was it on school grounds? Did you have a fire arm? For the least serious (CLASS C) Felony drug trafficking charges in Maine, a criminal conviction can result in fines of up to $5000 and up to 5 years of incarceration if the offender was unarmed. For the most serious (CLASS A) Felony drug trafficking charges in Maine, a criminal conviction can result in fines of up to $50000 and up to 30 years of incarceration.
Let’s take a moment to examine what a person accused of drug trafficking in Maine can anticipate and what they can do to help in their defense.
What is drug trafficking in Maine?
What are the penalties for drug trafficking in Maine?
Understanding the court criminal process for drug trafficking cases.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer can help?
Drug Trafficking in Maine is defined as the manufacture, packaging, distribution, or sale of illegal scheduled drugs. A consideration of a drug trafficking charge is that the accused “intentionally or knowingly” engaged in illegal drug trafficking. This means that the charge considers the state of mind of the accused. Most drug trafficking charges are felonies. Drug Trafficking in Maine is governed by the Maine statues which are 17-A M.R.S.A §1103 and 17-A M.R.S.A. §1105.
The key takeaway point for an individual accused of drug trafficking in Maine is that if the district attorney can provide evidence that the accused possessed these amounts of drugs, then no other evidence for intent is necessary to support a the drug trafficking in Maine charge. Under these circumstances, your criminal defense attorney will argue on your behalf the presumption of the intent to traffic, but ultimately the jury will consider the evidence in their decision making.
A criminal charge for drug trafficking in Maine can be elevated with the presence of aggravating factors. An elevated charge increases the severity of the charge and thus the severity of the sentencing. In order for a drug trafficking charge to be elevated to aggravated drug trafficking, the following circumstances must be present with the evidence.
The accused attempted to sell drugs to a minor under the age of 18 years old.
You were accused of drug trafficking in Maine and had a firearm when the crime was committed.
A charge of Aggravated Trafficking in Maine also can arise if the accused sold a person drugs that resulted in serious or fatal injury to that person.
Scheduled W Drug Trafficking (For example Cocaine, Heroin, LSD)- Class B felony. Maximum penalties include up to $20,000.00 in fines and up to 10 years jail time.
Schedule X Drug Trafficking (For Example Hashish)- Class C felony. Maximum penalties include up to $5,000.00 in fines and up to 5 years jail time.
Schedule Y Drug Trafficking (For Example Codeine)- Class D misdemeanor. Maximum penalties include up to $2,000.00 in fines and up to 364 days jail time.
In addition to the above penalties, a conviction for drug trafficking can also suspend your driver’s license for up to 5 years. Furthermore, an important collateral consequence of a drug trafficking conviction is a loss of any federal student aid that the defendant may be receiving or hope to receive.
Depending upon the circumstances of your case, there are situations like drug trafficking across state lines, where the federal government may “pick up” the Maine state drug trafficking charge. In these situations the charges is then prosecuted at the federal level. We are only detailing drug trafficking in Maine charges, which are prosecuted by York, Cumberland, Androscoggin and other Maine Counties.
Regardless of how the police find out about possible trafficking activity, your constitutional rights need to be respected. These include your Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures and your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. If the police searched or seized anything without the proper warrant, your criminal defense attorney can argue that this evidence should be suppressed (excluded) from being introduced at later court proceedings.
Often, law enforcement might attempt to obtain your consent to search your place or car, even if they do not have a warrant. Police might ask simply to “have a look around.” If you give your consent or invite them in, you will be held criminally responsible for anything the police find in their search, and this evidence will not be able to be suppressed. A good rule of thumb is if the police cannot show you a warrant, do not let them in.
If you are arrested on drug trafficking charges in Maine, you may be taken to the county jail to be processed. Depending on the case, bail in Maine may be set.
If a person is charged with a felony in Maine, such as often the case with drug trafficking charges, the accused needs to be indicted by a grand jury before that person can be Arraigned. At the Arraignment, the Defense Attorney would receive a copy of the discovery materials (police reports, etc.) from the District Attorney. Based on defense counsel’s review of the discovery, if the assistance of a private investigator or forensic expert might prove beneficial for the person’s defense, this would be discussed.
The next important dates in a trafficking case is a Dispositional Hearing often called a Dispositional Conference or Docket Call. A Dispositional Conference is the time for the attorneys to attempt to negotiate a resolution to the case without going to trial. The State may offer plea deals, and your defense attorney would explain these plea deals to you. If none of the offers are acceptable to you, then the case would progress to a Suppression Hearing and then trial.
The next important date in a trafficking case is the Suppression Hearing. Perhaps one of the most important pretrial proceedings in a drug trafficking case is a Suppression Hearing. In a suppression matter, the criminal defense attorney files a Motion to Suppress. In a Motion to Suppress, your defense attorney will argue that certain evidence was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights, and therefore should be excluded from evidence at trial. A hearing on the Motion shall be set by the Court, and arguments would be heard at a Suppression Hearing. After arguments are heard by the Court, it is up to the Justice to decide whether the questionable evidence should be kept out of evidence at trial or whether the State may use that evidence against the accused at trial.
The strength of the Suppression Hearing can affect your prospects of winning at trial. If some of the State’s best evidence has been excluded from evidence, then this will help in your defense. On the other hand, trial might be more of a challenge if the State is permitted to use certain evidence against you in front of a jury. Before going to a trial, your attorney should prepare you for all of the possible outcomes, including a win as well as a loss. In a trial, what the jury says is the outcome of your case.
Experience in Drug Trafficking Defense– If the attorney is experienced in representing your type of case, the attorney will know how to approach the case at court for the best possible outcome.
Fight for your Constitutional Rights– When police conduct investigations, even when conducting undercover operations, your constitutional rights need to be respected. If any evidence was obtained in violation of your constitutional rights, then your drug trafficking defense attorney will work to have any questionable evidence prevented from being introduced at trial.
Employ Expert Witnesses for Trial– Drug trafficking cases include technical evidence, including the measurement of the volume of drugs involved, as well as the chemical composition of the drugs. In some trafficking matters, expert witnesses can assist to find any potential holes in the State’s case.
In situations like these, the stakes are high. It is important that you take swift action to have an advocate counsel you on the Maine legal system. There are proven strategies to defending drug trafficking in Maine cases. The sooner our legal team becomes involved in the case the more time we will have to do our own fact finding as we help to prepare your defense. Effective action taken by a skilled drug trafficking lawyer before charges are filed by the DA could result in a lesser charge or in some cases prevent any charges from being filed. Whether the drug trafficking charge involves meth, narcotics or another controlled substance, it is imperative that you contact our firm as quickly as possible after the arrest.
Our committed legal team is determined to take immediate action to seek a positive case outcome. If you or someone you know is facing drug trafficking charges in Maine, I encourage you to contact The Nielsen Group for your free legal consultation with an experienced illegal drug defense attorney. We will take the time to answer your questions and to put your mind at ease as we work with you to determine a defense strategy.
On October 23rd 2013, Governor LePage hosted two Drug Crimes and Awareness Summits to raise awareness on the impacts of drug crimes within local Maine communities. With this increased focus, the police are focused also on drug crimes which will result in more Maine drug charges.
The Maine Statute on drugs provides guidance on the types of Maine drug charges and the sentences involved in each crime. Common Maine drug charges include possession, trafficking, and furnishing. The class of drug crime and potential sentence can vary based upon the type of drug, the amount possessed, and aggravating factors such as your history of drug crime convictions.
Let’s examine what an individual facing Maine drug charges can anticipate and how they can help themselves for their defense.
Schedule W: Generally, Schedule W illegal drugs include common “hard” street drugs and narcotics, such as methamphetamine, cocaine in all its forms, Lysergic acid (LSD), barbituric acid and its chemical cousins, heroin and its narcotic chemical cousins, such as methadone and oxycodone, and hallucinogenic drugs, among others.
Schedule X: Schedule X illegal drugs tend to have a depressing effect on a person’s nervous system, and include Chlorhexadol, Nalorphine, and hallucinogenic drugs such as peyote and hashish, among others.
Schedule Y: Schedule Y illegal drugs include many prescription drugs, as well as Barbital, Petrichloral, Codeine, and any compound of a narcotic drug plus a nonnarcotic additive, and Diazepam, among others.
Schedule Z: Schedule Z illegal drugs include marijuana, and this schedule serves as a “catch all” category for any drug not listed under any of the above illegal drug schedules.
Crimes that can be charged involving drugs include Unlawful Trafficking, Unlawful Furnishing, and Unlawful Possession, among other related crimes.
Trafficking– drug trafficking charges are the manufacture, transportation, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs or narcotics.
Furnishing– Furnishing drug charges mean to give an illegal drug to another person, with the knowledge that the substance was in fact an illegal drug.
Possession– Drug possession charges mean to have illegal drugs either on your person, in your home, or in your vehicle.
Penalties upon conviction of Maine drug charges depend upon a variety of factors.
How much of the drug was in possession when the crime was charged? The most direct determining factor how severe Maine drug charges can be is the amount of the drug involved. This can be argued by the State at the sentencing phase for a sentence closer to the maximum penalty allowable by law. Usually, the measurement is by weight. In some instances, Maine statute can also measure amounts of illegal drugs by the number of pills, the number of individual drug portions found for trafficking purposes, or the number of marijuana plants being grown. In some situations, the greater the amount of illegal drugs, the more severe Maine drug charges can be.
Does conviction for Maine drug charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence? In some cases, an illegal drug-related conviction would trigger a mandatory minimum sentence as a penalty. A mandatory minimum sentence means that is the least severe penalty allowable by law in the event of a conviction. Mandatory minimum penalties cannot be reduced or negotiated down any further.
Generally, the majority of illegal drug-related crimes are considered felonies. In Maine, felony penalties can include maximum fines in a range of $5,000.00-$50,000.00, and/or maximum jail time in a range of 5-30 years.
Is the Drug Crimes Defense Attorney Experienced in defending your type of charge with the type of drug cited in your case? An experienced Maine Drug Crimes Defense Attorney would be familiar with the Schedule of drug as well as the crime you have been accused of committing. This knowledge will help your lawyer approach defending your case at court.
Does the Drug Crimes Defense Attorney examine the State’s case for any and all weaknesses or inconsistencies? Because of the severity of the crime, it is essential that the drug crimes defense attorney takes a close look at all of the State’s evidence for any inaccuracies or inconsistencies. These can make a different in the ultimate outcome at court.
Does the Drug Crimes Defense Attorney search for any violations of your constitutional civil rights? An important part of the case for the District Attorney is the results from the police investigation. If the police obtained any evidence in violation of your constitutional civil rights, then your drug crimes defense attorney can request to have any questionable evidence suppressed (excluded from) being entered into evidence at trial.
An arrest for illegal Scheduled drugs can occur in a number of ways, including direct contact with law enforcement either through an investigation, coming into contact with a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) undercover agent, or through a police investigation. Or, an arrest can come through the bad luck of being stopped in your car through a minor traffic violation.
Police take their investigations seriously, and communities generally do not appreciate the presence of illegal drugs in their neighborhoods. Nevertheless, when police conduct their investigation, your civil constitutional rights need to be respected. If any evidence or statements are obtained in violation of your constitutional rights, then your defense attorney can argue to have them suppressed (excluded) from the case so that they cannot be used against you at later court proceedings.
In police investigations, beware the police appearing without a warrant asking if they can come in to “just look around,” since finding the drug itself is a fundamental piece of a drug-related charge. If the police do not have a warrant, do not let them in. If you let them in, that means that you will be held responsible for anything that the police find in your home or car because you gave the police permission to search the premises.
If you are arrested on drug charges in Maine, you may be taken to the county jail to be processed. Depending on the case, bail may be set.
If a person is charged with a felony in Maine, such as often the case with illegal drug charges, the person needs to be indicted by a grand jury (charged formally) before that person can be Arraigned. If the accused is not indicted by the Initial Appearance, then an Arraignment date would be set after the indictment is handed down.
At the Arraignment, the Defense Attorney can expect to receive a copy of the discovery materials (police reports, etc.) the State is using as the basis to charge the person with the drug crime. Based on defense counsel’s review of the discovery, if the assistance of a private investigator or forensic expert might prove beneficial for the person’s defense, we would discuss whether or not to engage the services of such an expert.
With Maine drug charges, your bail might include release into a diversion program, such as with a Maine Pretrial Services contract, in which you might be required to report regularly and would be subject to random drug testing pending the resolution of your case at court.
The next important court date when fighting Maine drug charges is a Dispositional Hearing, often called a Dispositional Conference or Docket Call. As mentioned earlier, many illegal drug charges are felonies. When facing a felony, your Illegal Drug Defense Attorney, depending on the specific facts of the case, might attempt to have the charges dismissed, dropped down to a misdemeanor, or to obtain a favorable plea agreement from the District Attorney.
In many illegal drug-related cases that I have represented, a common resolution that the client has chosen to accept is called a Deferred Disposition. A deferred disposition is when the District Attorney accepts a guilty plea from you, usually to the drug charges as initially charged, and the issue of sentencing is “deferred” to a later date. In the meantime, you are given a list of requirements that the District Attorney wants you to adhere to, such as a substance abuse counseling requirement. In exchange for your good behavior and compliance with conditions over a period of time (usually for one year, but this can be longer or shorter) the District Attorney can agree to give you a reduced sentence, or to dismiss the charge altogether.
An important part of preparing for a trial is discussing with your attorney what the possible outcomes of a trial might be, because despite our best efforts, we cannot predict what goes on in the minds of jurors that would make them decide a case one way or the other. Therefore, it is important to discuss with your defense lawyer the potential outcomes in the event that you lose as well as in the event that you win, because it is important for the defendant to understand all of the possible outcomes.
If you or someone you know is facing Maine drug charges, I encourage you to contact The Nielsen Group for your free legal consultation with an experienced illegal drug defense attorney. We have experience fighting Maine Drug Crime Charges. We know what you are facing and can advise you on the best defense strategy for your circumstances. We will take the time to answer your questions and to put your mind at ease.
There is a nation-wide evolution occurring in attitudes towards marijuana. While the drug has been categorized as illegal for decades, certain States, such as Washington State and Colorado, have made significant changes in their state laws making marijuana legal for adults to use recreationally. Notably, these states have also provided a legal supply chain for the production and sale of marijuana. This November, Colorado will ask voters to approve a 15 percent Marijuana excise tax to help fund school construction and to vote upon a 10 percent tax to help pay for marijuana regulatory enforcement. There are even discussions which consider that these taxes will not cover the expense of legalization. As is suggested by the most recent ballot initiative in Portland, Maine, to make possession of marijuana by adults of less than 2.5 ounces legal, might it be possible that Maine could be the next state to legalize marijuana statewide?
In the event that Maine does choose to legalize the cultivation, sale, and possession/ use of marijuana, it is important to understand that such a change in Maine’s law would create a conflict with federal laws, under which marijuana remains illegal, period.
Even if Maine changes the status of marijuana to a legal substance, akin to alcohol or tobacco products, this does not change the Federal law, in which marijuana remains an illegal drug.
In the federal law, the severity of the crime pertaining to marijuana depends on the weight of the marijuana seized by federal drug enforcement. In turn, the weight of the marijuana determines the sentence the offender would receive according to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Overall, in federal criminal prosecutions, there is not a lot of “wiggle-room” for a defendant to reduce a sentence after the weight of the marijuana has been confirmed.
One of the federal rationales for continuing to clamp down so hard on marijuana despite changing attitudes is that the illegal sale of marijuana tends to support financially illegal drug operations, such as gangs and cartels, who work across many states at one time, and who sell much harder and harmful drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, and who commit other violent crimes.
What can happen because of this conflict of laws?
When Colorado announced its change of laws legalizing marijuana, the Federal drug enforcement agencies noted that it would not enforce federal laws within the State’s legal marijuana infrastructure. Instead, the federal laws that would continue to be enforced would include those preventing interstate trafficking of marijuana, among other stated federal interests. In other words, while the federal government has indicated that it would not interfere with an intra-state operation, if that operation extended beyond the State’s boundaries, then the federal law that marijuana is illegal would supersede the State law that marijuana is legal.
From a policy perspective also, it might not be worth it to expend limited time and resources for the Department of Justice to send out drug enforcement agents to enforce federal laws in States that have made marijuana legal.
Therefore, if Maine legalized marijuana, then technically it remains possible that federal drug enforcement can be dispatched to enforce federal law in Maine despite State law if the federal agencies feel such enforcement is necessary. Any such enforcement would certainly be disruptive and potentially damaging economically for the community that had received the enforcement.
How can this conflict of laws be alleviated?
Without a similar change in the federal law to be a closer match to State law, having marijuana legal on the State level but illegal on the federal level will continue to be a conflict. One way that the federal agencies have coped thus far simply is to not pursue enforcement of all federal marijuana laws where the drug has been made legal on the State level. Another means of change might occur in the future if many more States, such as more than half, decide to legalize marijuana. In this instance, the federal laws might be more encouraged to change their position.
In Maine, marijuana is still an illegal substance if you do not have a medical prescription. Nevertheless, attitudes have been changing towards a more lenient position towards casual use of the substance. Other States, such as Washington and Colorado, have already legalized marijuana, and others are seeking to do the same. This November 2013, Portland City residents are being asked to vote on an initiative that would make the possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana legal. However, the purchase and sale of marijuana would remain illegal. What follows is my “educated guess” of what things might look like if Marijuana was legal in Maine covering the possession, sale, and cultivation.
Immediately, if marijuana was legal, it would benefit the section of clients I see who are charged with possession of marijuana and either end up with a civil violation or a criminal misdemeanor on their record. Having a civil violation or a criminal conviction on your record, even if it is a low-level misdemeanor pertaining to marijuana, can affect people poorly in eligibility for student loans, as well as can impact people’s ability to find or maintain employment in certain fields. If marijuana was legal, these clients, who otherwise are upstanding and productive citizens, would not have to suffer long-lasting consequences in their life and livelihood simply because they enjoy the occasional or recreational use or marijuana.
First, a new policy frame to view marijuana would be necessary. Some might argue that already legal but addictive substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, are “too easy” to access and too often abused. In my legal practice, domestic violence or violent crimes such as assault can be triggered or exaggerated by impairment due to alcohol. And, as I have discussed in other articles, drunk driving in which a person consumes alcohol and then gets behind the wheel of a car is a rather common but nevertheless serious crime. And multitudes of studies have shown how bad for your health tobacco use is.
However, given marijuana’s long status as an illegal drug, I do not imagine that the public would be willing to accept a level of access to marijuana on the same level as purchasing a bottle of wine sitting openly on the shelf at the local drug store. Perhaps the policy frame could be a hybrid between alcohol and tobacco, wherein a person could not be sold legal marijuana unless they have reached the age of 21 (older than tobacco), the purchaser would have to show a valid State ID showing their age, and like cigarettes, the marijuana could be kept in a locked cabinet behind the counter at the retail store, perhaps next to the tobacco products. For the still squeamish about marijuana, perhaps the product could even be stored in a back room of the retail space, not accessible unless obtained by a salesperson. If marijuana was legal, the Maine State governance would need to have some good productive discussions on handling the details of legal for whom?
If marijuana was legal in Maine, then the most difficult policy challenge for our legislators could be what to do with Maine’s existing Medical Marijuana Law, which in itself took many years to get passed and become accepted by the community.
Logically, if marijuana was legal entirely, then the distinction made by the Medical Marijuana Law between “medical marijuana” and “non-medical marijuana” would become insignificant. It would not matter how much of a legal substance that someone had in his or her home, or for what purpose he or she has the legal substance.
In terms of the production, growing and cultivation of marijuana, I think that Maine’s existing Medical Marijuana Law can be instructive. Already in the Medical Marijuana Law, there are people approved by the State to grow marijuana for medical patients, called Caregivers. In addition to growing plants, Caregivers can produce marijuana products for patients, such as marijuana-laced cookies for patients that do not wish to smoke the substance.
What if Maine’s Medical Marijuana Caregivers were changed into local Product Producers for safe legal marijuana? To meet demand, the State could hire, train, and regulate these local product producers, who would earn an income and pay taxes. This could mean jobs for Mainers. In this way, legalization of marijuana could be an opportunity for State-level economic development. So if Marijuana was legal in Maine, could we have a new industry?
We are all familiar with the horror stories of the ugly things that can happen when completely unregulated consumer products that are adulterated or modified enter the market. Illegal drugs by their very nature are completely unregulated. For example, in some illegal marijuana operations across the country, cultivators add tiny glass beads to the buds in order to make the product look more “valuable” than it actually is, and all in order to get a higher price. But, when the adulterated or modified marijuana is smoked, the tiny glass beads can become highly dangerous to your health.
In contrast, the supply chain of legal marijuana could be tracked from the seeds, the farm, the local distributor, to the retail store, similar to the process we have for tracking produce from the farm to the grocery store. And, regulation means that there could be State safety inspectors to make sure that the product is not adulterated or modified in any way. If Marijuana was legal in Maine, what would the safety and quality controls be?
Even if the use and possession of marijuana was legal, it does not mean that there would be no criminal charges in connection with marijuana at all. Instead of focusing on the consumers, the new criminal law for legal marijuana might focus on offenses pertaining to the cultivation and sale of marijuana. Being an unlicensed seller, selling marijuana to minors, and the classic criminal charge of Trafficking would all still remain criminal acts.
In order for the criminal charges to have a deterring effect, any consequences or penalties would need to be serious enough to impact legal producers and sellers as well as illegal traffickers. Already, illegal drug trafficking is considered a felony crime. Perhaps producers and sellers should also face similar felony charges if a crime is committed. For a Class C felony, the least severe felony in Maine, the maximum penalties include fines up to $5,000.00 and up to 5 years jail time.
Just because something is legalized does not mean that it would not be heavily regulated and taxed by the State. Generally, the public is willing to accept a higher tax on items that are addictive, since they would “buy them anyway.” In the case of legal marijuana, I believe that the public would accept a relatively high tax as another means of limiting access. In turn, this tax could be used to support the continuing regulation and inspection of the product.
In the cases of alcohol and tobacco, people often get addicted, and they can face a difficult road in breaking away from their habit. Industries have thrived on creating products to help people quit smoking tobacco cigarettes, and treatment facilities and self-help programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, never seem to run out of people to help. It is likely that something similar can be expected from marijuana if it were legalized.
Like any legal substance with potential for addiction, some people do not get addicted, and some do. For those that do become addicted and want to quit, I would imagine that as a society we would want to help people to overcome their addiction. People often do not seek treatment if they are addicted to illegal drugs because they do not want to admit to their friends or family that they took illegal drugs. The criminal court system and corrections systems are not designed to treat addiction. While Maine does have a Drug Court, this only scratches the surface of the number of people who would benefit from a more traditional, non-stigmatized, means of addressing their addiction.
Moreover, if marijuana was legal in Maine, the substance could be studied by medical research labs to find better ways to help people quit, and we might even come up with a better understanding of the substance’s potential as a medicine for certain illnesses. I would be interested to see what this type of research would be able to find.
Overall, while all of this discussion has been purely speculation, the decision and ultimate outcome will be up to Maine voters and Maine’s elected representatives.
In Maine, marijuana is still an illegal substance if you do not have a medical prescription. Nevertheless, attitudes have been changing towards a more lenient position towards casual use of the substance. Other States, such as Washington and Colorado, have already legalized marijuana, and others are seeking to do the same. This November, Portland residents are being asked to vote on an initiative that would make the possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana legal. However, the purchase and sale of marijuana would remain illegal. What follows is my “educated guess” of what things might look like with Maine legalizing Marijuana completely; possession, sale, and cultivation.
With Maine legalizing Marijuana, it would immediately benefit the section of clients I see who are charged with possession of marijuana and either end up with a civil violation or a criminal misdemeanor on their record. Having a civil violation or a criminal conviction on your record, even if it is a low-level misdemeanor pertaining to marijuana, can affect people poorly in eligibility for student loans, as well as can impact people’s ability to find or maintain employment in certain fields. If marijuana were legal, these clients, who otherwise are upstanding and productive citizens, would not have to suffer long-lasting consequences in their life and livelihood simply because they enjoy the occasional or recreational use or marijuana.
However, given marijuana’s long status as an illegal drug, I do not imagine that the public would be willing to accept a level of access to marijuana on the same level as purchasing a bottle of wine sitting openly on the shelf at the local drug store. Perhaps the policy frame could be a hybrid between alcohol and tobacco, wherein a person could not be sold legal marijuana unless they have reached the age of 21 (older than tobacco), the purchaser would have to show a valid State ID showing their age, and like cigarettes, the marijuana could be kept in a locked cabinet behind the counter at the retail store, perhaps next to the tobacco products. For the still squeamish about marijuana, perhaps the product could even be stored in a back room of the retail space, not accessible unless obtained by a salesperson.
If marijuana were legalized in Maine, then the most difficult policy challenge for our legislators could be what to do with Maine’s existing Medical Marijuana Law, which in itself took many years to get passed and become accepted by the community.
Logically, with Maine legalizing Marijuana eventually it will be completely legal, then the distinction made by the Medical Marijuana Law between “medical marijuana” and “non-medical marijuana” would become insignificant. It would not matter how much of a legal substance that someone had in his or her home, or for what purpose he or she has the legal substance.
What if Maine’s Medical Marijuana Caregivers were changed into local Product Producers for safe legal marijuana? To meet demand, the State could hire, train, and regulate these local product producers, who would earn an income and pay taxes. This could mean jobs for Mainers. In this way, legalization of marijuana could be an opportunity for State-level economic development.
In contrast with Maine legalizing Marijuana, the supply chain of legal marijuana could be tracked from the seeds, the farm, the local distributor, to the retail store, similar to the process we have for tracking produce from the farm to the grocery store. And, regulation means that there could be State safety inspectors to make sure that the product is not adulterated or modified in any way.
Even if the use and possession of marijuana were legalized, it does not mean that there would be no criminal charges in connection with marijuana at all. Instead of focusing on the consumers, the new criminal law for legal marijuana might focus on offenses pertaining to the cultivation and sale of marijuana. Being an unlicensed seller, selling marijuana to minors, and the classic criminal charge of Trafficking would all still remain criminal acts.
Moreover, if marijuana were legal in Maine, the substance could be studied by medical research labs to find better ways to help people quit, and we might even come up with a better understanding of the substance’s potential as a medicine for certain illnesses. I would be interested to see what this type of research would be able to find.
Often when accused of Marijuana Possession in Maine or a more severe charge, a maze of questions arise “Is this a civil violation or a criminal charge?”, “am I going to be sent to jail?”, “How much does a conviction cost?”, “What are the penalties for Marijuana Possession in Maine”, and so on. With so many questions, what is the first step when you are accused of Marijuana Charges in Maine?
One of the first things you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the court process. This way you will begin to understand what you are about to have to do. Let’s start by reviewing the court process when you are accused of Marijuana charges in Maine.
In-person contact: If you are pulled over for a routine traffic stop, in the course of the stop law enforcement may notice signs of the drug, such as the distinct smell of marijuana emanating from the car or the presence of paraphernalia, such as a pipe, observable inside the car. These observable signs of the drug have the risk of turning a traffic stop into a car search.
The Tip-off: Sometimes law enforcement can receive information from the community about potential marijuana activity or cultivation on a neighbor’s property or home.
Undercover Law Enforcement: In an effort to expose drug trafficking networks, drug enforcement agencies sometimes use undercover law enforcement officers to purchase drugs from a suspect.
The above list is by no means exhaustive. Overall, because of the nature of drug-related investigations, it is important to assert your constitutional rights. Never allow a police officer to enter your home without a warrant. A simple invitation for a police officer to “look around” is an invitation for them to look everywhere, and you would be held responsible for what the officers found.
If drug enforcement or law enforcement officers believe that they have grounds for probable cause that you committed a marijuana-related crime, then you may be arrested and taken into custody accused of Marijuana Charges in Maine.
Depending on the severity of the marijuana-related charge, bail may or may not be set at an amount you can afford. If you cannot make bail, then you would wait in jail up to a few days before your initial appearance at Court, referred to as Arraignment. At Arraignment, you appear in front of a judge, who reads the details of the charge to you. Arraignment is your opportunity to answer to the charge. When you are facing any criminal charges, you should always plead Not Guilty.
In drug-related cases, your Maine criminal defense lawyer should be keen to find out if any of the State’s evidence was obtained in a way that violates your constitutional civil rights. If the evidence was obtained in violation of your civil rights, then the evidence can be suppressed, meaning that it cannot be entered into evidence at trial. Your criminal defense lawyer would submit a Motion to Suppress, after which a Suppression Hearing would be heard by the Judge. The Judge will determine whether the evidence can be used at trial. It would be beneficial for the defendant if the Suppression Motion were granted by the Court.
If questionable evidence can be suppressed, and that evidence was crucial to the State’s case, then it is in your interest to have the case dismissed for lack of evidence or go to trial to expose the weaknesses in the State’s case.
The second significant court date is a dispositional hearing, called a Dispositional Conference or Docket Call in Maine. This court date presents an opportunity for the District Attorney and Defense counsel to meet to negotiate a resolution of the case without the necessity of a trial.
If you were charged criminally as a medical marijuana patient, this is where your lawyer should introduce this helpful evidence to the State. If no resolution is reached at the dispositional hearing, then the case progresses to a trial.
Most drug-related cases never get to a trial. As a Maine criminal defense lawyer, I prefer to take drug cases to trial only if the facts favor of the defendant or the State’s case is weak or tenuous. Ultimately, every case has its own unique facts. To find out how your case would fare at trial, you need to speak with a Maine criminal defense attorney and retain their expert legal services.
If you or someone you know is accused of marijuana charges in Maine, I encourage you to contact The Nielsen Group for your free legal consultation with an experienced Maine criminal defense attorney. We will take the time to assure we answer all your questions and put your mind at ease.

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