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Chester County Attorney for Drug Manufacturing

Unless you are a licensed drug manufacturer, it is illegal for anyone in Pennsylvania to manufacture drugs. The court is hard on those convicted of the crime. You could spend significant time behind bars and pay up to a quarter of a million dollars in fines.

You probably have many questions if you were arrested for drug manufacturing. It would be in your best interest to contact an attorney experienced with drug manufacturing as soon as possible. They can answer your questions and guide you through the complicated legal process.

Defense Attorney for Drug Manufacturing in Chester County, PA

You will need an aggressive defense attorney on your side to fight the allegations against you. The sooner you retain legal representation, the better your chances of a more favorable outcome in court.

Start building your defense today. Contact Ciccarelli Law Offices. We will listen to your story and find the best legal options available for your situation. Our attorneys will exhaust all of their resources to help reduce the charges or get them dropped.

Let our Chester County criminal defense lawyers guide you through this complicated legal process. To schedule a free case consultation, call (610) 692-8700 or submit your information in the online contact form. We defend clients in areas such as Media, Kings of Prussia, West Chester, Oxford, Springfield, Hatboro and many more .

Information Center

  • What is Drug Manufacturing?
  • PA Drug Schedule
  • How is Drug Manufacturing Penalized in Pennsylvania?
  • Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Drug Offenses in PA
  • Additional Resources

What is Drug Manufacturing?

Pennsylvania doesn’t have a law specifically for drug manufacturing. Instead, the charge is classified as possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. This charge encompasses multiple crimes that include possession, sale, delivery and manufacturing.

Under the Pennsylvania Statute, it is illegal to manufacture, sell or deliver, hold, offer to sell or possess any controlled substance, other drugs, device or cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded. Prosecutors are tasked with proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you manufactured an illegal drug in the state without a license to do so.

Some of the most common examples of illegal drug manufacturing include marijuana grow houses or operating a meth lab out of a garage.

PA Drug Schedule

The extent of the penalties you could face for drug manufacturing depends on where the drug falls on the schedule of controlled substances. The list consists of five schedules that are divided by the accepted medical benefits of the drugs and their potential for abuse.

There are thousands of drugs the state considers to be controlled substances. These drugs are listed under the Controlled Substances, Drugs, Device and Cosmetic Act. Some of the most common drugs in each schedule include:

Schedule I:  Drugs under this schedule are believed to have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Examples of such drugs include:

  • Marijuana
  • Heroin
  • LSD
  • Angel dust

Schedule II:  These drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and have accepted medical use. Some examples include:

  • Fentanyl
  • Amphetamine
  • Oxycontin
  • Percocet
  • Demerol
  • Ritalin

Schedule III: Drugs under this section have a lesser chance of abuse than drugs in schedule I or II and they have well documented and accepted medical benefits. Examples of such drugs include:

  • Codeine
  • Hydrocodone
  • Anabolic steroids

Schedule IV: These drugs have a low potential for abuse and accepted medical benefits. Some examples include:

  • Ambien
  • Valium
  • Ativan
  • Xanax

Schedule V: Drugs under this section have the lowest potential for abuse and have proven and accepted medical benefits.  Drugs in this schedule include any substance with small amounts of opium or codeine.

How is Drug Manufacturing Charged in PA?

Drug violations are one of the most common criminal offenses in southeastern Pennsylvania. To help reduce the number of offenses and to combat the rising drug crisis, the state heavily penalizes drug crimes.

Like mentioned earlier, the seriousness of the penalties will depend on which schedule the drug you were allegedly manufacturing falls under. If convicted of drug manufacturing, you could be charged with the following:

  • Schedule I or II Narcotics: Manufacturing narcotics under these schedules are charged as a felony. You could spend up to 15 years behind bars, pay a fine up to $250,000 or both.
  • Angel dust of methamphetamine: Manufacturing more than 1,000 pounds of either of these drugs is a felony. This is punishable by 10 years behind bars, a fine that can cost up to $100,000 or both.
  • Other Schedule I, II or II: Manufacturing other drugs under these schedules is charged as a felony. You could spend up to five years behind bars, a fine that can cost $15,000 or both.
  • Schedule IV: Manufacturing drugs in this schedule are charged as a felony that is punishable by three years behind bars, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.
  • Schedule V: Manufacturing drugs in this schedule are charged as a misdemeanor. You could spend up to three years behind bars, a fine not to exceed $10,000 or both.

Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Drug Offenses in PA

When you are charged with a drug crime in Pennsylvania, the courts are required to impose a mandatory minimum sentence.  A mandatory minimum sentence is given when your case has aggravated factors. Some of the most common aggravated factors for drug offenses include the weight of the drug, if weapons were involved and whether or not you were in a school zone.

As the name implies, these sentences are mandatory and a judge is not allowed to impose a shorter sentence.  Listed below are the mandatory minimum sentences for drug manufacturing cases with aggravated factors.

Using a firearm: Five years behind bars

Marijuana:

  • 2-10 pounds: One year
  • 10-20 pounds: Three years
  • 50 pounds or more: Five years

Heroin:

  • 1-5 grams: Two years
  • 5-10 grams: Three Years
  • 50 pounds or more: Five years

Cocaine:

  • 2-10 grams: One year
  • 10-100 grams: Three years
  • 100 grams of more: Five years

 Offense was committed in a school zone: Two years

Additional Resources for Drug Manufacturing in PA

Drug Manufacturing | Pennsylvania Statutes– Visit the Pennsylvania General Assembly to learn more about drug manufacturing. You can see how the state defines the crime and how it’s penalized. You can also learn more about other drug offense in the state and their criminal penalties.

The Controlled Substances, Drugs, Device and Cosmetic Act – Follow this link to view a complete list of controlled substances and which schedule they are classified under. You can also read the full text of the act that governs drug offenses in the state.

Chester County, PA Drug Manufacturing Attorney

By visiting this webpage, you already understand the seriousness of the charges you are facing. To help mitigate the consequences, you should contact a defense attorney at Ciccarelli Law Offices right away.

Ciccarelli Law Offices understand how complicated the legal process can be. We will be with you every step of the way. Ciccarelli Law Offices know how important your rights are. We will always strive to protect them and achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.

To schedule a consultation with Ciccarelli Law Offices, call 610.692.8700 or submit your information in the online contact form.

We defend clients in counties such as Chester County, Lancaster County, Delaware County, Philadelphia County and Montgomery County.

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