Missouri Drug Crime Lawyer
Possession, Distribution, Trafficking, Manufacture, & More
In the state of Missouri, a conviction for a drug related crime could result in loss of driving privileges and professional licenses, steep fines, lengthy prison sentences, and a permanent criminal record which could limit future opportunities to obtain financial aid for college or secure employment. Drug crimes are considered very serious offenses in the state of Missouri and if you have been charged it is essential that you secure representation from a Missouri criminal defense attorney.
It does not matter if you have been charged with simple possession of a controlled substance or the distribution, trafficking or manufacture of one. In any of these cases, a conviction could result in less than favorable outcomes. To successfully defend a drug charge, your lawyer should be experienced with negotiating criminal defense cases.
Penalties for Drug Possession Crimes
Unlike many other states in the country, Missouri has not yet legalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana and marijuana products. If you are arrested with even one gram of marijuana on your person or in your immediate control, then you can be charged with a low-level misdemeanor. If you are arrested for marijuana possession and already have a similar offense on your criminal record, you will be charged with an escalated misdemeanor that can penalize you with up to one year behind bars and thousands of dollars in fines. The potential criminal penalties upon conviction will only escalate even more for other narcotics and illegal substances.
Missouri drug possession penalties for “harder” drugs than marijuana include:
- Cocaine: Possession of any amount of cocaine is a Class C felony that can be penalized with up to seven years in state prison and several thousand dollars in fines and collateral fees.
- Methamphetamines: Possession of methamphetamine in any amount will be charged as a Class C felony as well; penalties often include up to seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Pseudoephedrine: As pseudoephedrine is used in prescription drugs and even some that may be bought over-the-counter in some counties and states, it is not strictly illegal to possess it. Possessing more than 9 grams of pseudoephedrine products in 30 days or 3.6 grams of such products in one day is illegal, though, and constitutes a Class A misdemeanor in most cases.
As aforementioned, the penalties typically describe first-time convictions and for comparatively low amounts of illegal drugs in the suspect’s possession. Penalties will only worsen for subsequent charges or for larger quantities of drugs found at the time of arrest.
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