Possession of Marijuana Crimes
The politics of legalized marijuana gets thrown out the door and the reality of a criminal record and penalties present themselves when you are faced with a notice to appear in Court for Possession of Marijuana charges. As soon as you are stopped or arrested or served – is the time to speak to an experienced, aggressive criminal defense lawyer – contact our West Chester based marijuana possession lawyers at Ciccarelli Law Offices for questions regarding your case.
Marijuana is considered a very serious drug in Pennsylvania. Due to its propensity to be abused, Pennsylvania laws seek to deter individuals from using marijuana by making the penalties associated with its use severe. Even if found with extremely small amounts, an individual could potentially face time behind bars. In order to avoid severe punishments for possession of marijuana, it is important to consult with an experienced marijuana crimes defense lawyer.
West Chester Possession of Marijuana Defense Lawyer
If you have been arrested for possessing marijuana in the Philadelphia metro area including the counties of Chester, Lancaster, Bucks, Delaware, or Montgomery, contact Ciccarelli Law Offices. In order to provide you with the best defense possible, the attorneys at Ciccarelli Law Offices will work around the clock. They will spend time collecting evidence, hunting down witness, and continuously attacking the prosecution’s assertions of fact.
Call us today at (610) 692-8700 to set up a free consultation on your possession of marijuana charges. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin preparing your rigorous defense. We represent people throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Downingtown, Exton, Media, Lancaster, West Goshen and Coatesville.
Experienced and Aggressive in Fighting a Marijuana Possession Conviction
A charge of possession of a marijuana is a misdemeanor grade offense and if convicted will give you a permanent criminal record. Possession of 30g or less is a misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. Possession of more than 30g is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Do not go to court alone and do not plead guilty with the benefit of an aggressive attorney.
Our goal is to get the misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession dismissed. In reviewing our case we evaluate whether the police violated your rights, including whether they illegally stopped you, illegally searched you or illegally interrogated you. In certain cases we will be able to negotiate a dismissal of the charges at the preliminary hearing; especially in cases of first offense or where the legality of the police’s prosecution is in doubt. In other cases, we have been successful in getting a client placed on a diversionary program, like Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) that will result in the dismissal of the marijuana possession charge after a period of probation.
The major difference between a misdemeanor charge and a felony charge involving marijuana is often whether it was possessed for personal use or with the intent to distribute.
Chester County Marijuana Possession Information Center
- Pennsylvania’s Definition of Marijuana Possession
- Penalties for Possession of Marijuana in Chester County
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Pennsylvania’s Definition of Marijuana Possession
According to Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (35 P.S. § 780-102 (2)), it is illegal for anyone to consciously control or have dominion over marijuana, marijuana seeds, or mixtures containing marijuana. Marijuana is also commonly referred to as weed, hash, ganja, cannabis, or pot.
Under Pennsylvania law, possession can either be “actual” or “constructive” in nature. Actual possession applies to scenarios in which the alleged offender has marijuana in his or her pocket, hand, purse, backpack, or otherwise attached to their body. Constructive possession pertains to situations in which an individual is in control of marijuana that is not on his or her body, but is aware of the presence of the marijuana, and has the ability to seize control of it.
Possession is an element of the charge of marijuana possession, meaning prosecutors must prove it beyond reasonable doubt. Your West Chester marijuana defense lawyer can call to question whether prosecutors sufficiently proved that you possessed the pot.
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Penalties for Possession of Marijuana in Chester County
If an individual is found to be in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, or less than eight grams of hashish (hash), he or she can be sentenced to up to 30 days in jail and/or up to a $500 fine.
For individuals convicted of possessing more than 30 grams of marijuana, the potential punishments include up to a year in prison and/or a fine of no more than $5,000.
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Have a Team of Dedicated Cannabis Defense Lawyers behind You
If you are facing charges for possession of marijuana in Newton Square, Norristown, Willow Street, Exton, Downington, Coatesville or Southeastern Pennsylvania, take the first and most important step in defending yourself by contacting Ciccarelli Law Offices. With offices located in Malvern, Springfield, King of Prussia, Philadelphia, Lancaster, West Chester, Kennett Square, Plymouth Meeting, and Radnor, the firm is able to provide quality legal representation to individuals throughout the greater Philadelphia region, who are facing marijuana possession charges.
Contact us today at (610) 692-8700 to ensure that you have a team of dedicated defense lawyers on your side. We are an aggressive group of attorneys who will handle your case with the attention and care that you desire.
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Contact Ciccarelli Law Offices when you need an experienced defense lawyer to fight your Marijuana Possession Charges. Our experienced team is ready to take on your case and fight for your rights before, during and after an arrest. Let us prepare a successful defense strategy and tactics for your possession charges.
We represent clients charged with such Pennsylvania drug offenses as:
- Marijuana Possession Charges
- Small Amount of Marijuana or “pot”
- Possession of Marijuana Plant
- Juvenile Offense of Marijuana Possesion
Ciccarelli Law offices defends individuals and their families facing serious drug related offenses including marijuana possession charges throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Our defense lawyers have been handling drug cases for more than 30 years and look to help clients avoid having these charges lead to serious jail time and a permanent mark on their criminal record.
With locations throughout the metropolitan Philadelphia area, call our office today for a free case evaluation at (610) 692-8700 or toll free at (877) 529-2422.