Stamford Drug Penalties

Drug offenses often have severe consequences for those who are charged. Stamford drug penalties range from misdemeanor to felony convictions, depending on the severity of the crime. That being said, possession or distribution of any illegal drug is prohibited and will result in a penalty of some sort. If an individual has been charged with a drug offense, it is imperative that they consult a lawyer immediately. A capable Stamford drug lawyer could attempt to build a solid defense for them, and mitigate the penalties that they face.

Misconceptions About Drug Offenses

There is a misconception that drugs like marijuana and prescription drugs do not carry Stamford drug penalties but that is false. People often think that because marijuana is decriminalized, it is legal to possess the drug in any amount. That is false as well. Marijuana possession is still a misdemeanor or, in some instances, a felony if someone is possessing or distributing larger amounts of marijuana. Once someone gets over half of an ounce, they are looking at a criminal record rather than just that violation or infraction.

People often get confused as well for prescription drugs, especially narcotics. For example, painkillers that are legally prescribed but perhaps are not kept it in a proper container. Just because it is legally prescribed, they still have to follow certain rules such as having it in the container with the person’s name on it (who the drug was prescribed to) and properly keep it like this at all times.

Why Are Certain Drugs Penalized More Than Others?

Stamford drug penalties can vary depending on how addictive the drugs are, and the health risks associated with these drugs. For example, heroin is widely known to be highly addictive and also causes a lot of overdoses, many of which lead to death. Those numbers are on the rise. That is one of the reasons it is punished more severely than marijuana, for example, as marijuana does not typically lead to many ODs and other issues statewide.

Exceptions to Prohibited Drug Laws

For some controlled substances, especially some opioids, stimulants, and depressants, possession is allowed if the person has a valid prescription and if the substance is kept in the proper container.

Somebody can have, for example, a valid prescription for oxycodone, then they can legally have that substance in their possession. However, they need to actually have a valid prescription for their medication and they need to keep it in the proper prescription container.

How Prescription Drug Cases Are Treated

Possession of prescription medication could still be an illegal possession or distribution of a drug charge, which could be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the amount and the drug, and even in the case where it is medically approved, if it is not being held in the right container or if it is being distributed or sold to those without a prescription. Individuals who are caught selling prescription

Consequences of Drug Charges

When someone is facing multiple drug charges, the chances of them having a permanent criminal record are greatly increased – especially if the person has been arrested on a prior occasion.

Due to the negative social stigma surrounding drugs, a lot of employers want people with completely clean criminal records, and that includes not only crimes like misdemeanors and felonies but also violation and infraction drug charges. It is important for individuals who have been charged with a drug offense to speak with a lawyer. An adept drug attorney could attempt to mitigate the Stamford drug penalties than an individual may face.