Marijuana - Criminal Offense
When a person is suspected of violating marijuana or other drug laws they can be arrested and may face a vast array of serious legal penalties if he/she is convicted. These legal penalties may include: jail time, fines, community service, probation, and court ordered drug and alcohol treatment. Additionally, convicted drug crime offenders will have damaged criminal records, which can negatively impact future employment, housing, and educational opportunities. The drug crimes include drug possession, drug possession for sale, drug distribution, drug manufacturing, DUI-drugs, drug cultivation, drug trafficking, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures. If the government violated the Fourth Amendment, the evidence is inadmissible. Without the evidence to prove the criminal charges, the State could dismiss its case against you. An experienced criminal defense attorney can evaluate your case and advise you whether the evidence leading the charge may have resulted from an illegal search or seizure.
Forfeiture is the seizure of property connected to an illegal activity. This tool is used by the federal and state law enforcement. The government asserts that it is a necessary deterrent to drug crime, while opponents argue that innocent parties are having their property taken away with no recourse.
