Possession of marijuana or paraphernalia is a misdemeanor in the state. Possession of hard drugs such as heroin, meth, and cocaine may be a felony. Having prescription drugs without a valid prescription is also a felony. These charges can lead to extended prison sentences.
Being accused of drug possession can be scary because the consequences vary from case to case. There may not be a universal consequence for the charges you face. With the right legal defense, that range of penalties can be a good thing. Our experienced Riverside drug possession lawyers may be able to:
Have the charges dismissed If the police did not use the appropriate protocols when they discovered the controlled substance or if you were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, we may be able to have the case dismissed entirely.
Use proposition 47. Under Proposition 47, passed in late 2014, some nonviolent drug possession charges are misdemeanors instead of felonies. Misdemeanor charges may be the first step in having a case dismissed or arguing for alternative sentencing.
Defer judgment. In some cases, you may be able to plead guilty and enter a rehabilitation drug program. After a successful probationary period, the charges against you will be dropped.
Pursue drug court sentencing. Drug courts were created for reform and rehabilitation rather than incarceration. Drug court sentencing is often less severe and may include random testing as well as counseling, treatment, and consistent employment.