In Georgia, drug offenses are treated as serious crimes that can result in large fines, probation, and extended prison sentences. Having a conviction for a drug offense on a permanent record can affect a person for the rest of his or her life, making it difficult to obtain employment and housing. If you have been charged with a drug offense, it is vital to contact an experienced drug and drug DUI defense attorney who can protect your rights.
Drug crimes can fall into a variety of categories, including:
In Georgia, possession is one of the most commonly charged drug offenses and can be actual or constructive. Actual possession means that a person has physical custody or control of an object, while constructive possession exists where someone has knowledge of an object as well as the ability to control it. Furthermore, a person must either know the item is illegal when he or she received it, or retain possession even after discovering that it is illegal, in order to satisfy the definition of actual or constructive possession.
A person can be charged with possession if he or she actually or constructively possesses one of a number of prohibited drugs, including:
Penalties for violating drug laws vary depending on the type of drug as well as the amount in the person’s possession. Possession of less than one ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in jail and the payment of a $1,000 fine. However, if the amount possessed exceeds one ounce, the offense is charged as a felony, which carries the threat of up to ten years in prison. Possession of schedule II drugs, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, is also charged as a felony and can result in a 15-year prison sentence for a second offense.
Additionally, in Georgia, all drug possession charges result in the required suspension of the accused’s driver’s license. For a first offense, licenses are suspended for six months. For a second offense, licenses are suspended for one year, while subsequent offenses lead to a two year suspension.
Being charged with or convicted of a drug offense can wreak havoc on a person’s family life, finances, and job prospects, so if you have been charged with possession or another drug crime, it is important to obtain drug defense help. Please contact the drug defense law firm of Thomas, Webb, and Willis, LLC, located in Atlanta, Georgia, at (404) 250-1113 for a free consultation.
Many people arrested for DUI feel as though they have already been pronounced guilty of a crime. If you have been charged with DUI, you should speak with expert DUI attorney Thomas J. Thomas.
750 Hammond Dr. Building 10 Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30328
