You were transporting drugs in your vehicle, but you never intended to sell them. They were your personal stash, used to help you control pain. You’re not into hard drugs, you just use marijuana when you need to relax and unwind. Now, an officer that stopped you for a traffic violation wants to charge you with drug charges and believes you intended to distribute the marijuana to others.
What are drug-dealing charges?
Drug dealing charges are specifically for situations where a person takes part in the chain of making, transporting or selling drugs. You may also face a drug sales charge instead, which essentially are the same but are focused on the sale rather than other parts of the manufacturing or transporting process. In some states, drug sales charges are called “possession with the intent to distribute,” which can mean that even if you never sell the drugs, possessing them is enough to trigger this charge.
What kind of penalties can I face?
It depends on the drugs you manufactured, sold or transported. For example, marijuana charges are likely to be much less severe than charges for heroin or methamphetamine. Your case also depends on the quantities of drugs found and if you have any previous offenses.
For example, if you have only two packets of marijuana in your pocket, the police might suggest you wanted to sell the other packet. However, the quantity is small enough that the charges may not be extreme. In comparison, a person with a full trunk of methamphetamine could face years in prison and thousands in fines.
If you have previously had a drug conviction, your penalties are likely to be higher than if you had not. Your attorney can help you understand the ways you can defend yourself against these charges, even if you’ve been convicted in the past. Our website has more information.