Being faced with a drug charge in Cleveland, Ohio, is stressful. You either have to fight the charge or take the punishment that the court hands you — so it makes sense to start looking at your possible defenses.
Today, we will look at the best way to mount a strong defense to drug charges in Ohio.
The first defense you can use is “unlawful search and seizure.” Absent a warrant, the police need probable cause, or a reasonable belief that you’re violating the law, to search your person, your vehicle and your property. If you truly believe that there was no probable cause to justify the search that turned up the drugs, you can argue that the evidence against you is inadmissible in court.
It’s also possible to claim that the drugs were planted. This is a very difficult defense to prove in court but it is one you can attempt. Maybe the drugs were planted by someone you know who wanted to get you in trouble. Maybe they were planted on you by an officer during a traffic stop. Either way, an experienced defense attorney may be able to find evidence to convince jurors that this is a possibility.
Were you caught with marijuana that you need for medicinal purposes? If so, you need to have your prescription and medical marijuana card with you at all times. If you were arrested because you didn’t have these items with you, you may be able to assert this defense and provide the documents later. Hopefully, the prosecution will then agree to drop the charges.
Fighting a drug charge takes experience and skill. You need to know the details of the charge, the possible sentence and all of the defenses available in order to be successful. An attorney can help you understand your options and make certain that your legal rights are protected.