ATTORNEY FOR DRUG CHARGES IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
EXPERT DEFENSE AGAINST DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES
Drug-related offenses can be charged as both misdemeanors and felonies and carry sentences from fines to mandatory prison time. A conviction for even a minor offense can significantly impact your way of life and affect your housing or work. You cannot help yourself by talking to the police on your own. You cannot expect prosecutors or judges to be lenient without a very good reason. Your best defense is to consult with a Columbus drug crime lawyer.
Attorneys for drug charges at the Meade Law Group know how to navigate Ohio’s legal system to get the best outcome for your case. We will look at all the evidence compiled against you and analyze your entire case. We will fight to have your charges dismissed or your sentence reduced. Our aim is to help you get your life back to normal as soon as possible. Do not leave anything to chance but hire the best drug crime lawyers in Columbus, OH.
OUR COLUMBUS DRUG CRIME LAWYERS CAN HELP WITH ALL TYPES OF OFFENSES
The Meade Law Group’s experienced attorneys for drug charges can help you regardless of the charge you are facing. Whether it’s a misdemeanor that carries the penalty of a fine or a felony with mandated prison time, we will form a defense strategy that is unique to your case. Some of the most common types of drug crimes that we encounter are:
- Drug possession: Possession is one of the most common crimes people are charged with. Depending on the schedule of the drug, the amount you are accused of holding, and prior criminal history, you may be facing a misdemeanor or a felony charge. You should also remember that although Ohio has a medical marijuana program, the recreational use of marijuana is illegal.
- Drug trafficking: You can be charged with drug trafficking if you are accused of knowingly selling or offering to sell a controlled substance or if you have prepared or transported one. It is not a requirement for a transaction where money was exchanged to take place to be charged with drug trafficking.
- Drug manufacturing: Manufacturing any type of drug is illegal in Ohio and this includes cultivating marijuana. If you are accused of drug manufacturing, you will be charged with a felony that carries a mandatory prison sentence and a fine.
SCHEDULES OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN OHIO
In Ohio, controlled substances are classified into five ‘schedules’. The drug-related charges and potential sanctions against you will depend on which schedule the controlled substance falls into.
- Schedule I: These are drugs that have a high potential for abuse and do not have an accepted medical use. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, peyote, and heroin.
- Schedule II: Drugs have a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence but have an accepted medical use. Some examples are narcotic painkillers, cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, and fentanyl.
- Schedule III: Drugs have a low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence. They include anabolic steroids, testosterone, ketamine, and barbiturates.
- Schedule IV: Drugs have a low potential for abuse and a low risk of developing dependence. Some examples are Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Ambien, and Tramadol.
- Schedule V: Drugs have the lowest risk of potential abuse. They include substances with limited amounts of narcotics or stimulants, such as cough medicine.
DO NOT TAKE YOUR SITUATION LIGHTLY
Penalties for drug-related offenses are severe. Even if you are convicted of a misdemeanor possession offense, you stand to pay a fine and lose your driving license for six months. The conviction can stay on your record and prevent you from getting future employment or housing. The penalties only get more severe from there. Drug charges are hard to beat – you should not try to do it on your own. You need the best attorneys for drug charges in Ohio on your side.
WE ARE THE ALLY YOU NEED
We want to keep your liberty. We want to keep your record as clean as possible. And we will fight tooth and nail to achieve this. The Meade Law Group’s drug crime lawyers in Ohio know which defense strategy will have the best results. However, that is not all we do. There are counselors and treatment programs we work with that can help you reach sobriety. Our goal is to help you both legally and personally to provide you with good options for the future. We are the ally you need.
Attorney Darren L. Meade
With over 30 years of experience and hundreds of trials in criminal litigation, Darren will be able to fight for your freedom. Don’t let fear and anxiety prevent you from making smart decisions about your future. The Meade Law Group can provide defenses for: