Prince George’s County Drug Lawyer
Drug-related offenses in Maryland can carry serious penalties and can negatively impact a person’s professional and educational opportunities. Despite the changing legal landscape and public sentiment regarding the possession and use of certain substances, a drug-related conviction is still a serious matter. If you have been charged with a drug-related offense, a Prince George’s County drug lawyer can help.
The attorneys on our criminal defense team also have experience working with clients who may have prior drug convictions on their record. If you are concerned about how an old drug charge might affect a recent case, your lawyer can work with you to develop a strong defense. En Español.
Types of Drug Charges
There are a number of different types of drug charges in PG County, and the severity of the offense can depend on several factors, including the amount and particular schedule (or level) of the controlled substance allegedly involved.
Some common types of drug charges include possession of a controlled substance, distribution or possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, importing drugs into the state of Maryland, working as a so-called volume dealer handling large amounts of drugs, or as a drug kingpin involved in a larger criminal drug enterprise, or using a weapon during a drug trafficking crime. It is also illegal to manufacture, distribute or possess a drug with intent to distribute near a school, or to use a minor in the commission of a drug offense.
No matter what type of drug offense you are charged with, it is a good idea to contact an experienced drug attorney in Prince George’s County as soon as possible.
Drug Penalties in PG County
Drug penalties in Maryland are most severe for offenses involving Schedule I and II controlled substances, like heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy/Molly, LSD, methamphetamines, and others. Penalties range from up to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines for felony distributing, possessing or manufacturing with intent to distribute a controlled substance that is not a schedule I or II controlled substance, to up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 in fines for similar offenses involving a schedule I or II controlled substance, under Maryland Code 5-608.
Simple possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance that is not marijuana is punishable by up to four years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
Marijuana Possession
Marijuana possession carries unique penalties that may not be as severe as other schedule I drugs, depending on the amount of marijuana involved in the offense. For this reason, if you are facing a marijuana possession charge, it is crucial that you have an experienced defense attorney on your side who is up-to-date with the most recent marijuana-related statute changes in MD.
Enhanced Penalties and Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Subsequent drug offenses frequently trigger increasingly heightened penalties for each later conviction. In addition, some offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences. Being convicted as a volume drug dealer carries a mandatory minimum penalty of at least five years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines, in addition to the penalty already on the books for the original possession, distribution or manufacturing charge.
Call a Prince George’s Drug Attorney Today
Whether you have a prior drug conviction or have never been charged with drug-related activity before, consulting a Prince George’s County drug lawyer can put your mind at ease as you navigate what can be a lengthy and complex judicial process. Your defense attorney can fight passionately to see your case resolved in a fairly, working to have the charges against you reduced or dismissed.