Ocean City Drug Lawyer

If you have been accused of a drug crime, let an Ocean City drug lawyer help you fight the charges. An attorney in Ocean City will work hard to try to get the charges dropped, get a verdict of not guilty or limit your penalties through the most favorable possible plea agreement. Drug crimes are taken seriously by prosecutors and you need to be proactive in responding to charges.

Responding to Drug Charges in Ocean City

You have two primary options for responding to drug charges: accept a plea bargain, or go to court. An Ocean City drug lawyer could help you decide which option may work best for you. Your attorney can try to negotiate a plea deal for you, or can defend you in trial. An attorney understands that you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. It is not your job to prove that you are not guilty, and an aggressive Ocean City drug lawyer can ensure that the burden of proof is placed on the prosecution.

In addition, if the police conduct an illegal search of you, your car, or your home, and they seize evidence in the course of that illegal search, an attorney can argue that the illegally seized evidence should be suppressed. You can also raise defenses like entrapment or allege that the drugs were not actually under your control. Your Ocean City drug lawyer will advise you on your options and represent your interests at every step of the way. Call today to learn more.

Drug Laws in Ocean City

A defendant may be charged with a variety of drug offenses in Ocean City including:

Possession of any controlled substances, ranging from marijuana to heroin to prescription drugs without a valid prescription. (Code Section 5-601)
Dispensing or distributing controlled substances. Code Section 5-602)
Possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. (Code Section 5-602)
Possession of equipment used to manufacture a controlled substance. (Code Section 5-603)
Possession of drug paraphernalia, like a bong or a crack pipe. (Maryland Code Section 5-619)

Just because you are accused of one of these crimes does not mean you will be found guilty. An Ocean City drug lawyer can put his legal experience to work on drug crime cases to help you develop a plan for responding to the allegations. Getting charges dropped or walking away with a verdict of not guilty are possible outcomes to your case, depending upon the evidence and the strength of the case you make to defend your freedom.

Controlled Substance Schedules

In Maryland, narcotics may be classified anywhere from a Schedule I to a Schedule V drug.

Schedule I drugs are considered to be the most addictive and have the highest potential for abuse. They also have no medicinal purpose. Marijuana and mescaline are examples of Schedule I drugs.
Schedule II drugs are also addictive and have a high potential for abuse, but have a medial purpose. Raw opium and morphine are Schedule II drugs.
Schedule III drugs have a medicinal purpose, are not as likely to be abused and/or don’t have the same potential for addiction as Schedule I or II drugs. They include benzphetamine and mazindol.
Schedule IV drugs have a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I, II, or III drugs, as well as a limited potential for addiction. They are used for a medical purpose and include barbital and clobazam.
Schedule V drugs have a lower potential for abuse and dependency relative to other controlled substances. They also have a medicinal use. Codeine and ethylmorphine can be considered Schedule V drugs depending upon the millimeters per 100 grams of the substances.

Drug Crime Penalties in Ocean City

Penalties can range from misdemeanor simple possession to felony drug offenses. Schedule V controlled substances result in the least serious penalties, with possible jail sentences, fines and other consequences growing progressively worse for controlled substances considered more “dangerous.”
A defendant will also face a longer prison sentence, large fines, and other more grave consequences for intent to distribute, dispensing, distributing, manufacture, or intent to manufacture as compared with a charge of simple possession. Finally, a past criminal record affects penalties as well.

Contact an Ocean City Drug Attorney Today

An Ocean City drug lawyer may be able to help you avoid any penalties at all, including a criminal record, if you can successfully defend yourself against the charges. If you want to plead guilty, your Ocean City drug attorney can also work with the prosecutor to reduce the charges or recommend light sentencing. Call today to schedule a consultation.