Wilmington Drug Possession Attorney
Fighting Drug Possession Charges in North Carolina
Drug possession is considered a serious drug crime in North Carolina, no matter the details surrounding your arrest. In order to stand up for your rights before you get slammed with an unjust conviction, contact James F. Rutherford, Attorney at Law. Our drug possession lawyer in Wilmington is ready and willing to make certain the criminal justice system respects you.
Reasons why clients come to our law firm for all their criminal defense case needs:
- Attorney Rutherford has 19+ years of legal experience.
- James is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law and in Field Sobriety Testing.
- We focus entirely on criminal defense and similar cases.
Facing charges for possession? Contact our Wilmington drug possession attorney to speak about your case today.
Marijuana Possession Laws in NC
North Carolina considers the possession of marijuana in any amount and for any purpose to be a crime, unless a special exception has been made to permit someone to use medical marijuana products. Possessing any weight of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor, meaning it will leave a mark on your criminal record. If you have more than half an ounce of marijuana, the fines escalate and you could be sentenced to jail time. Possession of more than 1.5 ounces is a felony.
If you are found with marijuana plants in your possession, prosecutors are allowed to charge you with illegal cultivation, which is a felony. It is also a high-level misdemeanor to possess any item that could be interpreted as marijuana paraphernalia.
Criminal Penalties for Other Drug Possession Crimes
Although the penalties for marijuana possession are severe in North Carolina, they are somewhat lenient when comparing them to the possible consequences of drug possession convictions related to other illegal substances. Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and so forth are all considered dangerous narcotics. Possession of any of these aforementioned substances will almost guarantee felony charges being filed against you.
Conviction for a felony in North Carolina can penalize you with:
- At least one year in state prison
- Thousands of dollars in fines
- Forfeiture of property related to the crime
- Hours of community service
Protection Against Serious Possession Charges
Your personal reputation will also be destroyed by a felony conviction related to drug possession. Our Wilmington criminal defense attorney can put 19 years of experience to good use to defeat the charges against you outright. With a thorough and steadfast defense, we hope to have the case against you dismissed so there is no harm done to your good name.
If you've been arrested for drug possession, contact our Wilmington drug possession lawyer at your first opportunity.