Drug crimes are taken very seriously throughout Minnesota, which is why law enforcement aggressively pursues suspected offenders and why the prosecution is determined to secure a conviction.
However, an offense may not warrant the maximum charges or a person may be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Either way, it takes a highly committed Minneapolis criminal defense attorney to secure the best possible result in the case. This means gathering the facts, using them to build a strong case, and then using that strategic defense to secure the ideal result.
Experience Fighting All Drug Charges
There are different types of drug offenses. Which type determines the exact charge. The charges are:
- First degree drug possession or sale – A person must have 25 grams or more of heroin, meth, or cocaine; 100 kg or more of marijuana; or they may be selling 10 grams or more of meth, cocaine, or heroin. A person can pay up to $1 million in fines and serve up to 20 years in prison.
- Second degree drug possession or sale – A person must have 0 grams or more of a non-heroin narcotic in their possession, such as meth or cocaine; 100 doses or 50 grams or more of a hallucinogen or amphetamine; 50 kg or more of marijuana, or selling 3 grams or more of heroin, meth, or cocaine. The penalty is up to $500,000 in fines and 25 years in prison.
- Third degree drug possession or sale – A person must have 3 grams or more of meth, heroin, or cocaine in their possession; 10 grams or more of a non-meth narcotic, such as heroin or cocaine; 50 or more doses of a narcotic; 10 kg or more of marijuana,; or at least 5 doses of LSD. The penalty is up to $250,000 in fines and 20 years in prison.
- Fourth degree drug possession or sale – A person must have at least 10 doses of a hallucinogen or be in possession with the intent to sell any amount of meth, cocaine, or heroin. The penalty includes up to $100,000 in fines and 15 years in prison.
- Fifth degree drug possession – This charge encompasses the possession of a small amount of a controlled substance, excluding marijuana. The penalty is up to $10,000 in fines and 5 years in prison.
Strategic Drug Crime Defense
Offenses involving marijuana are considered to be lower level offenses, which is why the fines and the jail time may be less. For instance, possession of 1.4 grams or less while in a motor vehicle can result in $1,000 in fines and 90 days in jail. Your Minneapolis criminal defense lawyer will fight for you using a fine-tuned strategy that is designed to achieve the best result in the case.
Contact A Minneapolis Criminal Defense Attorney
Being accused of a drug crime is very serious because of the impact a conviction can have on your future. If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug crime, it is important to simply not sit back and accept the charges. Instead, you can fight for your rights and for your freedom by pursing the best result with the help of an experienced attorney. To learn more, call the Olson Law Firm at 612-816-2322 to schedule a free consultation.
