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Drug Crimes

Getting charged with illegal possession of a controlled substance or marijuana can lead to hefty fines and significant jail time, even for small amounts of the substance. Texas law specifies multiple classes of drugs, with each having its own set of penalties.

If you find yourself facing a drug crime, whether it’s possession, manufacturing, or trafficking, you need an experienced drug crime defense lawyer on your side to fight for your rights.

Austin Drug Crimes Lawyer Explains Most Common Drug Crimes

  • Possession of a Controlled Substance: Controlled substances are classified according to the type of drug,  their properties, and the effects they have on their consumers. There are four different categories of drugs in Texas: narcotics, depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogenics.
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: When a person knowingly or intentionally uses (or possesses with intent to use) drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, or conceal a controlled substance.
  • Possession of Marijuana: Marijuana is a separate penalty group in Texas and includes cannabis, synthetic marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids such as K2 and Spice. Marijuana is illegal in Texas and penalties depend on how much substance is associated with the charge.
  • Possession of Cocaine: Cocaine is illegal and a Penalty Group 1 drug. Charges of cocaine possession or manufacturing, even in the smallest amount (< 1 gram), can result in heavy fines and jail time.
  • Prescription Drug Charges: Although prescribed drugs are generally legal in Texas, possession charges may apply to them in some circumstances. Charges usually depend on the drug type and its quantity.
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute: The Texas Controlled Substance Act prohibits the knowing manufacture of any actual or fake controlled substance with the intent to distribute it.
  • Drug Trafficking: Drug trafficking in Texas occurs when a person knowingly delivers any of the illicit or controlled substances defined and listed in the Texas Controlled Substances Act.
  • Drug Manufacturing: Drug manufacturing includes various activities, such as producing, preparing, advertising, converting, compounding or processing a controlled substance (except for marijuana which is addressed elsewhere in the Texas statutes).

Texas Controlled Substances Act

The state of Texas has some of the harshest penalties for illegal possession. Although not all possession charges are treated as felonies, most of them will fall under one of the six penalty group categories regulated by the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

While many of the prescribed drugs are generally legal in Texas, possession charges may apply to them in some circumstances. Charges usually depend on the drug type and quantity – or whether they come with a prescription from a health care provider at a matching dosage. In any case, the laws can be confusing and difficult to navigate without the aid of experienced drug crime lawyers to help.

Under the Texas Penal Code, prescription medication and any illicit drugs that have a high potential for abuse or that can cause harm are all considered controlled substances. Read more about Texas Controlled Substance Laws and Classifications.

Penalties

The state of Texas has some of the harshest penalties for illegal possession.

Penalty Groups for Possession of
a Controlled Substance

The Texas Penal Code, Texas Health and Safety Code, and the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 all work together to regulate the production, possession, and use of prescription drugs and illicit drugs (such as marihuana, cocaine, heroin, and numerous others). Therefore, Texas prescribes some of the harshest laws in the US for drug crimes.

There is a lot of confusion around Texas controlled substance classifications, laws, and penalty groups. For example, when it comes to possession of marijuana (or marihuana, as defined by Texas laws), a smaller amount of the substance (¼ ounce – roughly enough to cover half of a dollar bill) can be treated as a misdemeanor. However, everything above that amount is treated as a felony.

Get more details and thorough explanations about Texas laws regarding possession of a controlled substance and the associated penalties in this blog post.

Reach Out To Top Drug Defense Attorneys in Austin

Even if this is your first case of illegal possession, please do not hesitate to contact GHC Law Firm to discuss your options and potential legal representation. We are highly experienced Austin drug crime lawyers and available to quickly review your case and identify the best way to build a defense and represent your rights in court.

Contact GHC Law now.

Reach Out Today

The legal experts at GHC Law Firm represent the people of Travis County in all areas of criminal defense. Contact us for a free consultation today, so we can determine how to help you protect your legal and constitutional rights – and find the justice you deserve.

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