Westport Drug Lawyer
If you are facing any charges involving controlled substances, it is a good idea to talk to an experienced Westport drug lawyer to learn your options for fighting the charges. A top criminal defense lawyer can work to protect your rights and exploit every weakness in the case against you to help reach a positive outcome.
Who Prosecutes a Drug Case?
Both the state and federal governments have enacted laws regulating controlled substances. Most drug cases in Westport are prosecuted under state laws, but if law enforcement officials believe activities may extend to another state, then a case could be brought under federal law.
How Is the Seriousness of a Drug Case Determined?
The severity of a drug offense is determined in large part by the type of substance at issue, the quantity involved, and the type of activity alleged. Prohibited practices include:
- Possessing drug paraphernalia
- Drug trafficking
- Distributing or selling drugs
- Possessing drugs without a valid prescription
- Operating a drug factory
- Possessing drugs with the intent to sell or distribute
- Forging prescriptions or other drug fraud
- Drug conspiracy
A Westport drug attorney can review the circumstances, explain the ramifications, and ascertain the best strategies to defend against charges in a particular case.
How Are Drugs Classified?
Federal and state laws treat drugs differently depending on the properties and use of the substance. Those considered to have no valid medical use and a great potential for misuse, along with addictive qualities, are classified as more dangerous than drugs commonly prescribed by doctors that have a low potential for abuse.
What Are Some Examples of the Most Dangerous Substances?
Controlled substances are ranked in one of five schedules, with Schedule I drugs being the most dangerous and Schedule V drugs posing the least danger. Drugs on Schedule I include LSD, heroin, and peyote. Marijuana is also listed on Schedule I, although it is treated differently than other Schedule I substances.
Schedule II drugs include narcotics such as morphine, methadone, cocaine, and oxycodone. This schedule also includes amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin). It may be possible for a drug lawyer in Westport to defend against charges involving these substances by showing that the person accused had a valid prescription or was transporting medication for someone with a prescription.
How Are Substances With Less Potential for Abuse Regarded?
Substances on Schedule III are frequently prescribed by physicians and have less potential for abuse compared to drugs on Schedules I and II. Schedule III substances include narcotics such as codeine and hydrocodone.
Schedule IV includes many commonly-prescribed depressants such as diazepam (Valium), meprobamate (Miltown) and phenobarbital. Substances containing small concentrations of narcotics prescribed for coughs and diarrhea are found on Schedule V.
Contact a Westport Drug Attorney
Evidence regarding your state of mind or understanding of a situation often makes a critical difference in drug cases. Accordingly, it is a good idea to collect and preserve evidence that can reveal state of mind as soon as possible. A Westport drug lawyer could assist in the process.
A defense lawyer could also provide representation and advice to prevent inadvertently forfeiting rights or saying something that could be taken out of context and used against you. To learn more about the advantages a drug defense lawyer could provide in your case, reach out to Mark Sherman Law today.