The State of Texas and the United States take drug offenses seriously, as reflected in the phrase "the War on Drugs." Drug cases, including cocaine and marijuana, are particularly attractive to police because these cases result in forfeitures as well as government grants. A drug case can be a federal or State case. Prescription drug cases are becoming increasingly prosecuted in State court, particularly in Houston and Harris County, Texas. Whatever the charge, a conviction for a drug offense may carry with it collateral punishment, such as a driver's license suspension.
Types of drug charges
Possession: Possession is defined as the actual care, custody, control or management.
Delivery: It is an offense under both state and federal law to deliver or to have intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Possession: Possession is defined as the actual care, custody, control or management.
Delivery: It is an offense under both state and federal law to deliver or to have intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Manufacturing: It is an offense under both state and federal law to manufacture a controlled substance.
Conspiracy: One of the most frequently charged drug offenses in federal court is conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Methamphetamine: Due to the skyrocketing methamphetamine problem, the penalties for possession, delivery and manufacturing of methamphetamine have become extremely severe.
Cocaine: It is an offense to possess or distribute even the smallest amount of cocaine.
Marijuana: It is an offense to possess, distribute or cultivate marijuana. Depending on the quantity, possession of marijuana can be charged as a misdemeanor of felony in both state and federal court.
Paraphernalia: Paraphernalia is very broad and can include pipes, lighters, plastic baggies and rolling papers if the government can show that there was intent to use the items to use drugs
Penalties for drugs
- If you're caught with drugs in your bag, you may be charged with possessing an illegal material, whether it's yours or not you will be responsible for it.
- If you’re found with a Class C drug and don’t have a criminal records in the police station, you’ll get a formal warning or caution at a minimum. But in extreme situation the punishment may leads to 2 years. If you're found with a Class A or B drug, or have a record of drug offenses, you're likely to face much tougher punishment; because the punishment for the A and B will be five to seven years in prison.
- If you're under 17, the police are allowed to tell your parent that you've been caught.
- For selling drugs the punishment may leads to life in prison(Class A) or 14 years(Class B or C)
Hence these are the valuable information’s shared by the Houston criminal lawyer Neal Davis for the precautions. He has skill and knowledge in defending drug cases. Before deciding to open his own Houston criminal law office, Neal was a lawyer for over ten years with legendary Texas criminal defense attorney Dick DeGuerin, where Neal established an outstanding reputation in his own right. At the Houston law office of Dick DeGuerin, Neal defense of drug cases ranging from simple possession to complex conspiracies. Many times, Neal has prevented drug offenses from being charged or has gotten them dismissed or reduced. He has successfully handled forfeitures.
