Savannah GA Drug Possession Lawyer

Drug Possession in Georgia

 

Georgia drug laws are in place to protect the community from the influx of illegal substances and dissuade citizens from abuse of addictive drugs. The penalties for drug possession are significantly less harsh than they are for the sale, manufacture, or cultivation of controlled substances, but they can indeed include jail time, so possession of illegal drugs can result in devastating, life changing consequences.

 

The laws concerning drug possession are generally divided along the lines of how dangerous the drug is considered to be. There is a five-tiered drug schedule system elucidated in the Georgia Code, assigning a value to the various controlled substances. Schedule I and Schedule II drugs are considered to be the most dangerous, and thus, possession of these substances results in a more severe sentence than possession of Schedule III, IV, and V drugs.

 

Schedule I drugs include ecstasy (MDMA), heroin, and LSD; Schedule II drugs include amphetamines and  cocaine. Possession of Schedule I and II drugs can result in a jail term of between two and five years for a first offense, so this is indeed a very serious charge. Possession of the drugs that are defined as Schedule III, IV, or V substances can result in one to five years of incarceration for a first offense.

 

Marijuana possession of less than an ounce is a misdemeanor in the state of Georgia, but possession of more than an ounce can result in between one and ten years in jail. Possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone carries a very severe penalty that can be as high as 20 years of incarceration. A second offense for possession of marijuana in the vicinity of a school carries with it a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of imprisonment.

 

Anyone who has been charged with drug possession should immediately consult with a Georgia criminal defense attorney who has a background successfully defending drug cases. Depending on an individual's past record, a seasoned attorney can work with the courts to minimize the impact of the charges, and the circumstances of the arrest will be closely examined with the defendant's rights in mind. You are not guilty of the crime of drug possession until it has been proven in court, and your lawyer will do everything that is legally possible to protect your rights.

If you are charged with drug possession in Georgia, then contact a skilled drug crime defense lawyer in Savannah GA.