6 Types of Drug Charges In New Jersey

If you get charged with a drug offense, you need to hire a great criminal defense attorney.

Drug offense convictions can lead to jail time and a criminal record, both of which can ruin your life.

The following are six types of drug charges in New Jersey that’ll require an attorney to help you fight.

1) Distribution And Possession With Intent

If you’ve been accused of intent to distribute or actual sale and distribution of drugs, you could be facing very serious consequences.

Drug distribution is a felony drug offense that results in a jail sentence, a suspended driver’s license, and a felony criminal record.

You can be convicted of possessing drugs with an intent to distribute based solely on the number of drugs in your possession and the circumstances under which the drugs are found. This is true even if there is no evidence of actual distribution.

2) Drug Manufacturing

Growing or producing illegal drugs can get you in serious trouble, especially if you are accused of manufacturing for eventual distribution.

All types of illegal drug production (including marijuana cultivation) are considered drug manufacturing.

If the prosecutors can prove that you were growing more than 10 marijuana plants, then you’ll be convicted of a first-degree felony and sentenced to substantial jail time.

3) Simple Possession And Marijuana Possession

Simple possession of marijuana is the most common drug charge. It’s often brought in connection with drug paraphernalia charges.

These charges happen most often in the following three situations:

• During a routine traffic stop when a police officer searches the car after seeing apparent drug paraphernalia or claiming to smell marijuana.

• The police respond to noise complaints about parties, believe they detect signs of drug use, and conduct a search.

• When a home or business is searched as part of an investigation of another crime, and the police claim to have found marijuana or paraphernalia in the building.

4) Prescription Fraud

If you’ve been charged with obtaining prescription medication by fraud, you could be facing significant jail time and other consequences.

These drug charges happen when people forge or alter prescriptions or doctor shop. The most common prescription drugs that people get through fraud include:

• OxyContin, Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Vicodin
• Percocet
• Xanax

5) Drug Conspiracy Charges

Even if you are not accused of actually committing a drug offense, you could be charged with being part of a drug conspiracy.

6) School Zone And Public Zone Offenses

Any drug offense committed near a school or in a public area such as a park or beach can result in much higher penalties.

As your lawyer, John W. Tumelty will carefully evaluate your opportunities for avoiding drug penalties. Tumelty has 30 years of experience in criminal law and drug law.

He is a former deputy attorney general with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and former assistant prosecutor with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Click Here To Contact Experienced Attorney John Tumelty And Discuss Your Drug Charges.

This article, and other articles, on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.