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Phoenix Drug Lawyer
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Arizona Drug Crimes
Getting arrested and knowing you’re facing a drug crime can be overwhelming. The idea of spending years in jail could hang over you, on top of concerns for your current and future livelihood. In addition, your drug charge could become a felony conviction, as most drug crimes are felonies in the state. With the thought of such severe penalties and consequences, you want to have someone who can fight for you.
A Phoenix drug lawyer from Gurion Legal can handle your defense. We can investigate the evidence, make arguments in your defense, represent you at trial, and work to get your charges lowered or dropped. Our team stands ready to serve as your advocate from start to finish. Contact us today to learn how our team can work for you.
What Makes the Lawyers at Gurion Legal Different?
At Gurion Legal, we know criminal law. Our founder, Omer Gurion, is a Board Certified Criminal Specialist. This is the highest level of certification offered by the state bar for this area of law. As a result, we know how to navigate cases like yours and go after the best possible results.
We bring a personalized approach to every case. Our team wants to understand your story and the unique details of your case. We can work hard to build a legal strategy based on your case’s evidence.
Our Track Record
You can read more about the following and many other successes on our Recent Case Victories page:
- 21 Felonies Reduced to Two Misdemeanors: Our client faced 21 felony counts for fraudulently stealing a prescription pad, then filling prescriptions for painkillers. We reduced this to two misdemeanor charges through negotiation and pointing out flaws in the prosecution’s case.
- Possession of Methamphetamine – Charges Dismissed: Our client discovered he faced a 20-year-old charge for possessing dangerous drugs, and police had a warrant out for his arrest. After we pointed out flaws in the test used to charge our client, the court dismissed the charges.
Our attorneys can work just as hard to get results for you.
Our Recognitions
We are proud of our recognition from peers in the legal industry, including:
- American Society for Legal Advocates – Top 40 Under 40
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100
- American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys™ – Ten Best in Arizona
Ways an Attorney Can Help You With a Drug Crime Charge
Any criminal case can prove complex and time-consuming. It’s intimidating knowing that you have to appear for hearings or a trial. You don’t have to do this alone. Our Phoenix drug crime lawyers can help you navigate it all.
We can:
- Explain your charges: Your case may contain a lot of legalese, but we can explain everything.
- Build a defense: Our attorneys know how to analyze evidence and identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case to build your defense.
- Navigate the courts: In Phoenix, your case will likely proceed through the Superior Court of Maricopa County. However, our attorneys can help you with a case in many other districts. Every court has specific rules, deadlines, and expectations, and we can ensure that you follow them.
- Represent you at trial: Our attorneys can make statements on your behalf, cross-examine witnesses, and advocate for your rights at trial.
- Seek reduced charges and penalties: We can negotiate with the prosecutor on your behalf, work to reduce or drop your charges, and try to minimize any fines or other penalties you face.
- Handle communication: Every criminal case involves a great deal of document exchange and communication with other parties in the case. We can handle all of these matters for you.
Types of Drug Crimes in Phoenix Our Lawyers Handle
Arizona law criminalizes the possession, manufacture, transport, and administration of certain dangerous drugs. Such drugs include amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamine, and hallucinogenic drugs, among other controlled substances.
You could face charges such as:
Possession of a Dangerous Drug
Knowingly having dangerous drugs on you can land you with a possession charge, whether you simply carried the drugs in your pocket or intended to sell them.
Related charges include:
- Possession of a dangerous drug for sale
- Possession of a dangerous drug with the intent to distribute
- Possession of a narcotic drug with the intent to distribute
- Possession of precursor chemicals or equipment to manufacture drugs other than methamphetamines
Penalties for these charges can range from a Class 4 felony to a Class 2 felony, depending on the severity of the crime. For instance, possession of a dangerous drug could result in a Class 4 felony, while possession of a dangerous drug for sale could be a Class 2 felony.
Manufacture of a Dangerous Drug
State law says that you cannot make or grow controlled substances regardless of the location—at home, on another person’s private property, or in a public area.
Related charges include:
- Manufacturing narcotics
- Cultivating an illegal number of marijuana plants
The state takes drug manufacturing seriously—and the penalties are equally serious. Manufacturing a dangerous drug can lead to a Class 2 felony.
Administering a Dangerous Drug
If you help someone take illegal drugs, you could face this charge. Under state law, this means applying, injecting, or otherwise assisting someone to take the drug.
Related charges include:
- Administering narcotics
Administration of a dangerous drug or narcotic could result in a Class 2 felony.
Transporting a Dangerous Drug Into the State
No matter how you travel, you cannot bring dangerous drugs into the state. You cannot fly, drive, or come to the state with controlled substances.
Related charges include:
- Transporting or importing narcotic drugs
A conviction for transporting a dangerous drug could lead to a Class 2 felony.
Marijuana-Related Drug Crimes
You may also face charges for possession, sale, use, or transportation of marijuana, among other related charges. Marijuana is not classified as a dangerous drug, however.
In some situations, marijuana-related crimes could lead to a misdemeanor. Depending on whether you used, sold, or produced marijuana and the amount of the drug involved, you could face anything from a Class 6 to a Class 2 felony.
Other Related Criminal Charges You Could Face
You could face other criminal charges if you carry, sell, make, or distribute drugs. For example, depending on the situation and whether you committed a violent crime, you could also face charges of assault or aggravated assault.
Additionally, the state criminalizes the use and possession of drug paraphernalia. You could face a Class 6 felony for using or having such instruments to aid in taking, growing, or processing dangerous drugs.
Defenses a Phoenix Lawyer Can Use in Your Case
Just because you face a drug crime conviction does not mean you should give up. Our drug crime attorneys have experience with cases like yours. We understand how to analyze the evidence against you, point out its weaknesses, argue for your rights, and defend you against a drug crime charge.
Every case involves unique factors. Depending on your charges and the evidence in the case, we can use one or more of the following defenses:
Illegal Search and Seizure
When a police officer knocks on your door, signals you to pull your car over, or otherwise searches you for drugs, they must have probable cause. This means they need to have reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. Your Fourth Amendment rights protect you from unreasonable search and seizure.
If the police searched your property illegally, they cannot use the evidence collected during the search. Our attorneys can investigate the methods the police used to obtain their evidence to determine whether they had probable cause or violated your rights.
The Drugs Don’t Belong to You
Maybe you got into your car, got pulled over for speeding, and the police searched your car on suspicion of drug possession. If they found drugs in your glove compartment, they might assume those drugs belonged to you and charge you accordingly.
However, our team can present your side of the story. If you drove your partner’s car and the drugs belonged to them, for instance, you could have a valid defense. In many situations, you could argue that the drugs were not yours.
Entrapment
You could have rarely or never used drugs in your life—yet you found yourself buying drugs from an undercover officer. In some situations, we could say that this constitutes entrapment. In other words, you committed a crime that you ordinarily would not have committed.
Flawed Test Results
When you get tested for drug use, authorities may use a sample of your urine, saliva, blood, or other specimens. Then, a laboratory processes those specimens. In a criminal case, authorities must handle this evidence according to strict guidelines.
With all of these moving parts in the testing process, your results could have errors, or authorities may not have conducted the testing properly. We can review the evidence to see if this defense makes sense in your case.
You Had Legal Possession
In some situations, you may have a controlled substance by legal means. For example, when you have medical marijuana or prescription opioids.
Under state law, qualifying people can have a certain amount of medical marijuana in their possession, with some restrictions. A doctor may also prescribe you opioid-based painkillers, such as Vicodin or OxyContin. Our drug crime lawyers can review your medical history to build this defense if relevant to your case.
Your Case Does Not Meet the Legal Definition of the Crime
State law gives detailed specifications of what constitutes a drug crime. The prosecution must prove that your actions constitute a crime within the legal definition of your charge. If they do not have enough evidence to do so, we can make this argument in your defense.
Frequently Asked Questions in Phoenix Drug Crime Cases
Don’t let uncertainty hold you back from seeking legal help. Our team can give you the answers you need to move forward and start building your defense.
Can You Get My Charges Dropped?
We might persuade the authorities might drop your charges dropped. However, your chances depend greatly on the severity of the charges, your past criminal history, and other factors in the case.
For instance, you’re more likely to have luck with dropped charges if you’ve never committed a crime and only had a small amount of a drug. On the other hand, if you have a record of selling drugs and police discover a significant quantity, you could have a much harder time convincing the prosecution to reduce your charges.
Arizona law says that exceeding the statutory threshold amount in a drug crimes case could mean that you have no chance of getting probation, pardon, or early release after a conviction. Our attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
Should I Hire a Lawyer?
You may want to hire an attorney for a criminal case, especially when you face felony charges. If convicted, you could face years in jail.
Our attorneys can fight for the best possible results. We know how drug crime cases work, and we can fight to see your charges lowered, dropped, or your penalties reduced.
Is it Legal to Possess Medical Marijuana?
State law permits qualifying people with debilitating conditions to use marijuana for medical reasons. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS), you may qualify if you have post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), among other conditions.
If you qualify but don’t have a valid Patient or Caregiver Medical Marijuana Registry Identification Card or lost it, we can advise you of your legal options.
Contact Gurion Legal for a Free Case Review
You don’t have to deal with a drug crime case alone. Our Phoenix criminal defense attorney help you with every aspect of your case from start to finish, building the best possible defense in your favor.
Contact our team today for a free consultation at (480) 800-0020. We can determine your next best steps and explain how we can advocate for you.