Drug charges punish individuals who use or sell controlled substances in Santa Ana. California’s list of illicit substances is incredibly long and can even include common pain medications. Individuals who are convicted face the possibility of incarceration and high fines.
The court system wants you to fight drug charges on your own. After all, individuals who have professional help are more likely to win their cases. A drug crimes lawyer in Santa Ana can start defending you now. The Simmrin Law Group can help you learn more about your options today.
Drug Charges in Santa Ana: Drug Possession
The court system in Santa Ana only permits individuals with prescriptions to have controlled substances for personal use. Some drugs cannot be legally possessed even with a prescription. You can get in serious trouble if you are convicted of drug possession for your own personal use.
The court system sometimes uses the name of the illicit substance as part of the charges. You could be charged with possession of meth or possession of Vicodin, for example.
You will likely face misdemeanor charges for basic drug possession. Convictions for drug possession can lead to:
- Fines of $1,000
- Jail Time of 1 Year
Note that you can also end up in legal trouble for the possession of drug paraphernalia, or tools commonly used with illicit substances.
Some individuals in Santa Ana may be able to take advantage of a “drug diversion” program. This program offers people drug treatment instead of jail time. Getting the court to agree to a drug diversion program can be difficult. A drug crimes lawyer can make the process easier.
For a free legal consultation, call (310) 896-2723
Drug Charges in Santa Ana: Possession for Sale and Drug Trafficking
There are two common charges used to prosecute individuals accused of selling illicit substances in Santa Ana:
Possession for Sale
Individuals commit possession for sale by having illicit substances that they intend to sell to others. You can be charged with possession for sale without actually selling a drug to anyone. In fact, possession for sale charges are often brought against people simply because they were found with large amounts of a controlled substance.
Possession for sale convictions can result in these penalties:
- Fines of $20,000
- Prison Time of 4 Years
Drug Trafficking
In many ways, drug trafficking represents a more serious version of possession for sale. Drug trafficking often involves moving drugs across state lines to sell them. Drug trafficking can also involve the sale of larger amounts of drugs.
The court system treats drug trafficking more harshly than possession for sale. In fact, the federal court system handles many drug trafficking cases. Conviction rates in federal court are very high and the penalties for federal court convictions can be severe.
You might end up facing these repercussions if convicted of a first-time drug trafficking offense:
- Fines of $2 Million
- Prison Time of 40 Years
Handling possession for sale and drug trafficking charges properly requires in-depth legal knowledge and experience. You can count on a criminal defense lawyer in Santa Ana to take on your case. The sooner your lawyer gets to work on your case, the better your odds of beating your charges will be.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Drug Charges in Santa Ana: Charges for Marijuana Usage
Marijuana’s legality is currently the subject of major debate around the country. California is ahead of the curve in many ways, partially decriminalizing the use of marijuana long before most other states. Individuals over the age of 21 in Santa Ana are now legally allowed to:
- Possess marijuana and concentrated cannabis for personal use
- Participate in marijuana cultivation for personal use
Note that you are under strict limits for how much marijuana and concentrated cannabis you possess. The state also limits the number of marijuana plants you can grow. You’ll still face criminal charges if you exceed any state limits.
You can also face charges for intent to sell marijuana. While the personal use of marijuana is largely accepted, you are still not allowed to:
- Sell Marijuana
- Give Away Marijuana
- Import Marijuana
- Transport Marijuana for Sale
Make sure you understand where you stand on marijuana charges by contacting a drug crimes lawyer today.
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A Drug Crimes Lawyer in Santa Ana Can Defend You
Drug crime charges can encroach on your freedom. Here at the Simmrin Law Group, we believe that a drug charge should not upend your entire life. We have highly trained drug crimes lawyers in Santa Ana that can go to work on your defense now. Call us at (310) 896-2723 or fill out our online contact form to start getting the protection you need.
Find out more about what we can do for you with a FREE consultation.
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