New Jersey Drug Crime Lawyer

Schedule a free consultation with our N.J. drug defense attorneys today to learn how we can protect you.  Remember, it is time to take back the power . There is hope if you have the right attorney  and dedicated criminal defense attorney on your side.

Defenses to Drug Charges

Prosecutors and police may act like you are facing an easy slam dunk case, but that is rarely the truth. In fact, there are many reasons cases get dismissed, charges get reduced, and defendants are found not guilty.

Some of the common questions we explore when building a defense in drug crimes cases include:

1. Were you subject to an illegal search and seizure to get the evidence that is being used against you?
2. Was there probable cause for a search or traffic stop?
3. Did the law enforcement officer read your Miranda rights as soon as you were arrested or whenever you did not feel like you were free to leave?
4. Were the drugs really in your  possession?
5. If you are facing a charge of possession with intent to distribute, is the charge based on possession of drug paraphernalia, a large sum of cash, or a household scale? Should the charge of intent to distribute be reduced to simple possession?
6. Did a police officer find drugs on you while patting you down for a weapon?
7. Was any evidence obtained in an illegal manner, or were any procedural mistakes made in your case
8. Were you placed in a flawed lineup, or could you have been identified in another misleading way?
9. If test results are being used against you, is there any evidence of problems with the lab equipment used to obtain those results?

Our experienced N.J. drug crimes lawyer will ask hard questions to poke as many holes in the prosecution’s case as possible. The burden is always on the prosecution to prove their case, and we intend to make their job extremely challenging.

Common Types of Drug Crime Cases Our Law Firm Handles

Our attorneys handle a wide range of drug cases. Some of the common types of cases our law firm takes include:

1. Drug Possession
2. Drug Distribution
3. Use or Being Under the Influence of Drugs
4. Drug Paraphernalia
5. License Suspension for Drug Offenses
6. Needle or Syringe Possession
7. Possessing, Distributing, or Selling Drugs in a School Zone
8. Booby Trapping & Fortifying Premises Used to Sell Drugs
9. Failure to Make Lawful Disposition of Drugs
10. Federal Drug Crimes
11. Marijuana Possession
12. Marijuana Possession of Less Than 50 Grams
13. Cocaine Possession
14. Heroin Possession
15. Methamphetamine Offenses
16. Ecstasy Offenses
17. Imitation Drug Offenses
18. Prescription Drug Offenses

No matter what type of drug charges you are facing, you should speak with our knowledgeable New Jersey drug crimes attorney as soon as possible to start discussing your options for building a strong defense.

Penalties for Drug Charges in N.J.

Penalties for drug crimes can be extremely harsh in New Jersey, and they vary depending on what degree of the crime you are charged with. For example:

• A person convicted of a crime of the first degree may face 10 to 20 years in prison and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $200,000.
• A person convicted of a crime of the second degree may face 5 to 10 years in prison and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $150,000.
• A person convicted of a crime of the second degree may face 3 to 5 years in prison and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $15,000.
• A person convicted of a crime of the fourth degree may face up to 18 months in prison and be ordered to pay a fine of up to $10,000.
• A person convicted of a disorderly persons offense may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $1,000.
• A person convicted of a petty disorderly persons offense may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $500.

Punishments for a first-degree crime versus a petty disorderly persons offense vary greatly. So it is important that you have a experienced N.J. drug crimes attorney on your side who understands what is at stake and will fight for the best possible outcome in your case.

Understanding How N.J. Classifies Controlled Dangerous Substances

New Jersey law classifies certain drugs as “controlled dangerous substances,” or CDS, when they have the potential for abuse. These drugs are highly regulated by the state, and penalties for illegal possession or distribution can be severe. For your understanding, here is a general description of the schedules of drugs:

Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substances have:

• A high potential for abuse
• No accepted medical use in treatment in the United States

Examples of Schedule I drugs under N.J. law include marijuana and synthetic marijuana, hash, heroin, LSD or acid, MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, etc.

Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substances have:

• A high potential for abuse
• Currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions
• The potential for abuse to lead to severe psychic or physical dependence

Examples of Schedule II drugs under N.J. law include methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, morphine, codeine, Adderall, Ritalin, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.

Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substances have:

• A potential for abuse less than the substances listed in Schedules I and II
• Currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• The potential for abuse to lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence

Examples of Schedule III drugs under N.J. law include anabolic steroids, ketamine, Tylenol with Codeine, testosterone, etc.

Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substances have:

• A low potential for abuse relative to the substances listed in Schedule III
• Currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• The potential to lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the substances listed in Schedule III

Examples of Schedule IV drugs under N.J. law include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), Darvocet (propoxyphene and acetaminophen), zolpidem (Ambien), etc.

Schedule V Controlled Dangerous Substances have:

• A low potential for abuse relative to the substances listed in Schedule IV
• Currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States
• Limited physical dependence or psychological dependence liability relative to the substances listed in Schedule IV

Examples of Schedule V drugs under N.J. law include low doses of codeine, dihydrocodeine, ethylmorphine, diphenoxylate, opium, etc.

Many of the clients we work with want to understand the law and do some research into the charges they are facing. Below are some resources to help you begin your research.

• Definitions of Key Terms under New Jersey Drug Laws
• N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10. Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (“CDS”)
• N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5. Manufacture or Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances (“CDS”)
• N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7. Distribution or Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substances in a School Zone
• N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1. Sell or Distribute in Public Park or Housing Project
• J.S.A. 2C:43-3. Fines for Drug & Controlled Dangerous Substance (“CDS”) Offenses
• N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4.1. Booby Traps and Fortification of Premises Used to Distribute CDS
• N.J.S.A. 2C:35-3. Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network

Talk to Our N.J. Drug Crimes Attorney for Free Today

Schedule a free consultation with our N.J. drug defense attorneys today to learn how we can protect you.  Remember, it is time to take back the power . There is hope if you have the right attorney  and dedicated criminal defense attorney on your side.