Courts in West Covina can hand down harsh penalties if you are convicted of a drug crime. Individuals facing drug charges can be railroaded through the legal system if they don’t have strong legal representation.
The Simmrin Law Group has experience dealing with drug charges. Our drug crimes lawyers in West Covina can take on your case no matter what charges you’re facing. You can get the help you need to handle these charges and get on with your life.
Marijuana and Criminal Charges in West Covina
You may have heard that marijuana usage was decriminalized in California. This is true, but the facts of the situation are very complicated. In fact, you can still end up incarcerated for some types of marijuana usage.
Legally, you are allowed to possess marijuana and concentrated cannabis for your own personal use if you are over the age of 21. However, there are limits on how much of these substances you can possess at any time.
You are also legally allowed to take part in marijuana cultivation. However, you must be over 21 to grow marijuana and you are generally only permitted to grow 6 plants. You can face criminal charges for growing larger amounts of marijuana.
Finally, while you are legally allowed to grow or possess marijuana or marijuana products for personal use, you can still face criminal charges if you:
- Sell Marijuana
- Give Marijuana Away
- Import or Export Marijuana
You could end up spending 4 years in jail if you are convicted of a marijuana drug crime in West Covina. A criminal defense lawyer from West Covina with experience handling drug crime cases can help protect you from these charges.
Criminal Charges for Other Illicit Substances
While the laws surrounding marijuana usage have grown less severe in recent years, the same is not true for other controlled substances. You can still face serious penalties if you are charged with drug possession. The court can sentence you to 1 year in jail and fines of $1,000 if you are found with small amounts of:
- Opiates
- Steroids
- Stimulants
- Hallucinogens
- Depressants
You can end up facing serious legal problems just for the use of certain painkillers, such as codeine and hydrocodone. Drug possession is a basic charge if you are caught with drugs for personal usage. You may face more specific charges based on the substance you were found with, including:
- Possession of Meth
- Possession of Vicodin
The court can also charge you with possession for sale. A possession for sale charge is used if you are found with an amount of an illicit substance that exceeds what the court thinks you could personally use. You do not have to be caught actually selling a drug to face possession for sale charges.
Possession for sale is punished far more severely than drug possession. You could be fined $20,000 and sent to a state prison for 4 years if you are convicted of possession for sale.
Charges for Drug Paraphernalia in West Covina
Drug paraphernalia are items that are generally used with controlled substances. You might be familiar with these common examples of drug paraphernalia:
- Crack Pipes
- Cocaine Spoons
- Needles (In Some Situations)
Note that some items that many people associate with drug use are not considered drug paraphernalia. You cannot face a drug paraphernalia charge for the possession of:
- Vaping Devices
- Scales
- Bongs
If you are convicted of possession of drug paraphernalia you could be fined $1,000 and sent to jail for 6 months.
West Covina’s Severe Drug Charges
Some individuals in West Covina can be charged with drug trafficking, which is an incredibly harsh charge. Drug trafficking can be handled at the state level or in federal court if drugs are moved across state lines.
Drug trafficking charges are used to prosecute individuals who move illicit substances around to sell them. You can very high penalties if you are charged with drug trafficking, including millions of dollars in fines and 40 years in prison for a first-time offense.
Many people think they have to be moving incredibly large amounts of drugs to be charged with drug trafficking. This is not always the case. For example, you can face drug trafficking charges if you have even a single gram of LSD or 5 grams of methamphetamine.
Fight Against Drug Crime Charges in West Covina
Dealing with a drug crime charge on your own can lead to imprisonment and fines. You can get the help you need from a drug crimes lawyer in West Covina. The Simmrin Law Group can help build your defense right away. Find out what we can do for you by taking advantage of our FREE consultation.
You can reach us by filling out our contact form or calling (310) 997-4688.