Dependable Criminal Defense Attorney

Excepting medical marijuana card holders, cannabis use, and consumption is still illegal in the state of Pennsylvania. A possession charge of a small amount of marijuana means the police officer or arresting officer did not believe that the offender had any intent to grow, sell, or distribute the marijuana to anyone else.

Nevertheless, charges for possession of a small amount of marijuana (i.e., 30 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of hashish for personal use) are still steep in Pennsylvania. Even first-time offenders can face penalties such as a 30-day jail sentence and a maximum of $500 in fines. Those convicted of growing 30 grams of marijuana or less will face similar charges.

Heroin is one of the most addictive illegal drugs out there, so naturally, the penalties for being caught with it are harsh. First-time offenders can face a maximum prison sentence of up to one year. Penalties for second-time offenders include a maximum prison sentence of up to two years. Third-time offenders face the highest penalties and with a maximum prison sentence of three years.

First-time charges for possession of cocaine is considered a misdemeanor, the penalties for which are a maximum prison sentence of one year and fines up to $5,000. For subsequent offenses, this prison sentence is lengthened to three years, while maximum fines shoot up to $25,000.

You do not need to use drug paraphernalia to be charged with the possession of such. What qualifies as drug paraphernalia can be very broad and grey depending on the circumstances. However, drug paraphernalia you’ll typically see includes rolling papers, needles, syringes, pipes, scales, bowls, bongs, bags, baggies, plant growth devices, and razor blades, to name several.

In Pennsylvania, the max penalties for drug paraphernalia charges are a jail sentences of up to one year and maximum fines of up to $2500. However, offenders found selling to a minor at least three or more years younger than the offender doubles these penalties. For commercial drivers in particular, a single drug paraphernalia charge is enough to get your CDL license revoked.

PWID stands for Possession with Intent to Deliver and is considered a felony charge. It denotes the possession of drugs to grow, manufacture, produce, sell, and/or distribute. Of course, the penalties are hefty for this charge; to illustrate this, those discovered with PWID anabolic steroids can face up to five years in prison, a maximum of $15,000 in fines, and possibly federal charges and a mandatory minimum sentence.

However, penalties range widely depending on the amount and type of drug in the offender’s possession. For example, a PWID charge for a Schedule I drug like LSD has a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines of up to $15,000. On the other hand, Schedule IV drugs only have a maximum prison sentence of three years in jail and fines of up to $10,000. However, offenders caught with heroin or methamphetamine PWID will face the steepest penalties. The former has a maximum $250,000 fine and a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, while the latter earns a decade-long prison sentence and a maximum $100,000 fine.

Prescription fraud is defined by obtaining prescription drugs for which you have no legal prescription, and it’s a growing problem in the state of Pennsylvania and. Offenders will face a maximum penalty of $5000 in fines and a prison sentence of up to one year. However, those convicted of obtaining a controlled substance through prescription fraud will face a maximum fine of up to $5000 and a prison sentence of up to seven years.

Synthetic drugs have chemical compounds that mimic those of highly illegal drugs, but differ slightly enough to circumvent legal requirements. Simple possession of synthetic drugs are considered a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania, which carries a maximum jail sentence of one year for first-time offenders and three years for subsequent convictions. However, first-time offenders are typically fined and put on probation. Only repeat offenders are likely to face serious penalties for these charges.

Trafficking synthetic drugs, on the other hand, carries many more serious offenses, and ususally convicted offenders face some jail time. For example, those convicted of trafficking synthetic drugs face a minimum jail sentence of one year.