Drug Laws

Possession of a Controlled Substance: Drug Possession Laws

What is a controlled substance? Learn about the penalties for drug possession and the laws in your state.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Along with drug possession charges, possession of drug paraphernalia charges are one of the more commonly charged crimes in any jurisdiction. Understand the legal definition, circumstances, and penalties for illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

Felony Drug Possession

Possessing “illegal drugs” may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, a more serious charge. The prosecutor’s choice will depend on the type of drug involved (sometimes, possessing a certain type of drug will automatically lead to felony charges).

Cocaine Possession

An overview on the consequences of being charged for cocaine possession or use, criminal penalties and sentencing that would apply, and how a lawyer may be able to help.

Juvenile Drug Possession

Just like adults, juveniles who illegally possess drugs are in violation of the law. Minors under 18 will typically face their drug possession charges in juvenile delinquency court. Learn what penalties judges typically order in juvenile drug possession cases.

Crystal Meth: Possession, Precursors, and Penalties

Possession of meth or its precursors can result in federal or state criminal charges.

Heroin Possession: Charges, Penalties, and Defenses

A person who possesses heroin can face serious criminal penalties, including jail or prison time and substantial fines.

Amphetamine Possession Charge: Penalties, Evidence and Defense

Here's an overview on the laws, consequences, and possible defenses for possessing amphetamines.

Possession of LSD: Penalties and Defenses

Possession of LSD or acid is a very serious crime. Learn how the federal government and states penalize illegal LSD possession.

Possession of Rohypnol

Rohypnol -- the “date rape drug” featured in horrific news reports starting in the late 1980s. People at parties or out for drinks at bars later found themselves in a stranger’s home, often naked, and with no memory of how they had gotten there or what had happened to them. Many such incidents

Laws on Manufacturing Drugs

The manufacture of any drug, also known as narcotics or controlled substances, is strictly prohibited unless you are properly licensed by state and federal authorities. Drug manufacturing laws are most commonly seen in cases where someone is growing marijuana or making methamphetamine, but can apply in any situation where a controlled substance is involved.

Dismissing (or “Sealing”) a Federal Record for Drug Possession

Defendants who possessed small amounts of drugs may be able to have their convictions dismissed.

Drug Trafficking Laws

Though many people believe that “drug trafficking” is synonymous with “drug dealing,” the law applies a broader net. Though state laws on drug trafficking differ significantly, all states have laws that punish drug trafficking activity.

Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Drug Trafficking

Enacted in the 1980’s, the federal sentencing guidelines for drug trafficking impose significant penalties for people convicted of federal drug trafficking crimes. When most people hear the words “drug trafficking,” they imagine drug dealers or international drug smugglers; professional criminals

Sale of a Controlled Substance: Drug Sale Laws

Drug dealing is a crime not only in every state, but also one punished at the federal level.

Selling Prescription Drugs Illegally

Federal law makes it illegal for any person who does not have a license to write prescriptions to sell or give a prescription drug to another person (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)). Licensed health care professionals, such as doctors or pharmacists, cannot knowingly sell or give prescription drugs to someone who does not have either a valid need or valid prescription for the drugs.

Sale and Possession of Oxycodone (OxyContin)

Oxycodone (marketed as OxyContin®) is one of the most well-known prescription opioids. The federal government places oxycodone in Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act—the federal law that categorizes and regulates drugs based on their medical value and potential for abuse and addiction. Penalties

Can I Go to Jail for Selling Fake Drugs?

Question: I sold a baggie of aspirins that I said was OxyContin to a guy at a concert. After the show, I heard that there were undercover officers in the crowd. Could I be busted for selling fake drugs?

Distribution of Amphetamines: Criminal Penalties and Laws

Once called “uppers,” amphetamines have been retooled for the demands of the modern world. Some amphetamines are prescribed to treat attention disorders but are used without prescriptions (and illegally) as study aids, athletic performance enhancers, and brain boosters. This “off label” use has

Ecstasy Laws

“Ecstasy,” a drug also known as “E,” is the street name for 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It also includes substances that have been mixed with MDMA and unknown groups of drugs.

Crack vs. Powder Cocaine: One Drug, Two Penalties

Defendants get more time for crack offenses than for coke offenses, even though the drug is essentially the same.

PCP Possession and Penalties

In the waning days of the disco era, “angel dust” made its appearance on the recreational drug menu of some partiers. PCP swiftly gained a notoriety that far outpaced either its popularity or its potency. But it is a potentially dangerous substance, and possessing it exposes a person to very serious