If you have been accused of a drug-related offense, your freedom, reputation, and job may be at risk, possibly for years to come. At Speights Law, we understand what’s on the line.
With over 122 years of combined legal experience, our team includes former prosecutors and seasoned trial attorneys who know how to fight back. A Marietta criminal defense lawyer from our team will explain your rights and build a strategy tailored to your situation.
Our Marietta drug crimes defense lawyers will explain how Georgia law affects your case and go over your legal options with you. We don’t wait for prosecutors to make the first move; our defense begins immediately. To get started on your case, call us today for a free consultation.
Our Marietta Drug Crimes Defense Lawyers Will Fight for You
Our defense team at Speights Law will take your case seriously. We know that a drug charge—no matter the level—can threaten your job, your relationships, and your plans. We also know the system isn’t always fair. People can be charged based on flimsy evidence, unreliable witnesses, or overreaching investigations.
Here’s how we help you combat these accusations:
- Listen to your story without judgment.
- Review the arrest and search process for violations of your rights (Fourth Amendment).
- Challenge the evidence, especially lab results, confidential informants, and assumptions of intent.
- Negotiate with prosecutors to reduce or dismiss charges.
- Fight for alternatives to jail, including drug court or first offender programs.
- Represent you in court, at motions hearings, trial, and sentencing.
- Help you file appeals or post-conviction motions if needed.
We will explain the law in plain language and return your calls. You’ll always know what’s happening with your case.
What Is Considered a Drug Crime Under Georgia Law?
Drug crimes in Georgia include a wide range of offenses, from simple possession to drug trafficking. These cases are prosecuted under Georgia’s Controlled Substances Act. The laws define how drugs are classified and what penalties apply depending on the type and amount involved.
Some of the different types of drug crimes in Georgia include:
- Possession: Having illegal drugs on your person, in your car, or in your home
- Possession with intent to distribute: Claiming that you meant to sell drugs based on quantity, packaging, or surrounding evidence
- Manufacturing or cultivating: Producing drugs like methamphetamine or growing marijuana
- Drug trafficking: Having large quantities of drugs
- Prescription fraud: Using fake prescriptions or doctor shopping for controlled substances
These offenses can involve substances from Schedule I (e.g., heroin, ecstasy) to Schedule V (e.g., cough medicines with small amounts of codeine), with penalties increasing depending on the drug’s schedule and amount.
Penalties for Drug Crimes in Georgia
Georgia doesn’t go easy on those accused of drug crimes. Even a first-time conviction can carry lasting consequences. The penalties depend on the type of drug, the amount involved, and whether you’ve had prior charges. In many cases, you could be facing years behind bars.
Common consequences include:
- Jail or prison time: Ranging from short-term sentences to long mandatory minimums, especially in trafficking cases
- Fines and court costs: Often in the thousands, with added financial burdens like probation fees or required treatment programs
- Probation or parole: With strict conditions that may limit your freedom and require ongoing monitoring
- Felony record: Can impact your ability to get a job, find housing, or apply for financial aid
- Increased penalties for repeat offenses: Longer sentences and fewer chances for diversion or leniency
The outcome of your case can shape your future for years to come. That’s why it’s critical to have a skilled legal team defending you from the start.
What It Means to Be Charged With a Drug Crime in Marietta, GA
Being charged with a crime doesn’t mean you are guilty. However, it does mean prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to convict you. This is a turning point. Without the right defense, the state’s case can move fast and result in long-term consequences.
People charged with drug crimes often feel:
- Afraid of prison time
- Worried about their family or children
- Confused by legal terms and court processes
- Pressured to accept a plea deal
- Angry about false accusations or unfair searches
When our lawyers for controlled substance charges in Marietta handle your case, it means you have someone protecting your rights, challenging the state’s case, and guiding you through every step. To review your legal options during a free consultation, call us today.
Why These Cases Matter
Drug charges can derail your future, but they don’t have to define it. With the right legal strategy, many drug charges can be reduced to lesser offenses, dismissed entirely, or resolved through diversion programs that avoid a felony record.
Whether you are an adult facing first-time charges, someone with prior offenses, or a professional caught in a misunderstanding, you deserve a fair defense and honest advice.
Potential Defenses in Marietta, GA, Drug Crimes Cases
Not every drug charge leads to a conviction. At Speights Law, we look at every angle to challenge the case against you. Depending on the facts of your case, we could raise any of the following defenses:
- Illegal search or seizure: If police searched your home, car, or body without a valid warrant or legal reason, the evidence could be thrown out.
- Lack of possession: Just being near drugs doesn’t mean they were yours. We’ll argue that you didn’t have control or knowledge of the substance.
- Entrapment: If police or investigators pushed you into committing a drug offense you weren’t already planning to commit, we may argue that the charges stem from entrapment, not your intent.
- Lack of intent: Many drug charges require proof that you knowingly possessed or planned to sell drugs. If you didn’t intend to break the law, that matters.
- Mistaken identity: You may have been misidentified by a witness or caught up in someone else’s arrest.
- Valid prescription: If you were legally prescribed the medication in question, we can show proof to have the charge dismissed.
- Faulty lab testing: Drug test results aren’t always accurate. We may challenge the procedures, handling, or conclusions of the state’s laboratory analysis of the drug charges.
Every case is different. Once we learn more about what happened to you or your loved one, we will determine the best way to approach the defense.
How to Prepare for Your Drug Crimes Defense Case
Your actions now can affect your outcome later. Here are ways to support your defense and your case:
- Stay silent: Don’t answer police questions without a lawyer present.
- Write down what happened: Include the time, location, what officers said or did, and anything else you remember.
- Avoid talking about your case: This applies to both social media accounts and conversations with friends.
- Gather evidence: Save text messages, receipts, or anything that supports your side.
- Follow your lawyer’s advice: Our drug charges defense lawyer in Marietta will help you avoid mistakes that could hurt your case.
Our Drug Crimes Defense Lawyers in Marietta Can Lead Your Case
At Speights Law, we don’t back down from tough cases. We’ve helped countless Georgians navigate drug charges listed in the state’s Controlled Substances Act, and we know how to fight and when to negotiate. Our job is to defend your rights and your future.
Contact us today to speak with our Marietta drug crimes defense lawyer handling your case. You can trust that we will treat you with the respect you deserve and fight for the best possible result. Start with a free, private consultation with a member of our team today.