In Michigan, possession of any controlled substance can result in a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on the type of drug in question and years of incarceration. If you are facing a drug-related charge for possession of a Schedule II drug, whether that drug was used for medical or recreational purposes, contact an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney today. With the help of a skilled Lansing drug possession lawyer, you may be able to get your charges reduced or dismissed.
Michigan divides controlled substances into five categories, called “schedules.” Schedule I drugs include the most dangerous substances that have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. These drugs include Ecstasy, heroin, LSD, mescaline, mushrooms, peyote and marijuana. Schedules II, III, IV, and V drugs are considered less dangerous and have some medical uses; however, many of them are still highly addictive and, also, highly regulated.
While Schedule II drugs are generally considered less dangerous than Schedule I controlled substances, they can often lead to chemical dependence and addiction. In some cases, Schedule II drugs are used for medical purposes, for example, to alleviate pain. Common Schedule II drugs include:
Because of the highly addictive nature of Schedule II drugs, some patients become dependent upon them following medical treatment. If you were a medical patient treated with a Schedule II drug and have since been charged with Schedule II drug possession, contact an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney today to begin building your case.
If a person is found to be in possession of a Schedule II substance or any mixture containing that substance, they can face a felony charge punishable by incarceration and thousands of dollars in fines. Penalties increase as quantities of a Schedule II controlled substance increase.
Because penalties worsen as quantities of Schedule II controlled substances increase, those possessing large amounts of a controlled substance face harsher penalties than those carrying smaller quantities.
Those charged with Schedule II drug possession can face additional penalties for possessing any amount of Ecstasy or methamphetamine. Possession of either Ecstasy or methamphetamine can result in a felony punishable by up to 10 years incarceration and up to $15,000 in fines.
If a person faces a second or subsequent conviction for possession of a Schedule II drug over 50g, they can face even harsher criminal penalties, including incarceration for life. Because of the extreme penalties for subsequent convictions, it is important to fight your first possession charge to prevent even harsher potential penalties in the future. For help in building your Schedule II drug possession defense, contact an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney at DeBruin Law, PLLC, today.
If you’ve been charged with a Schedule II drug crime, whether it be for possessing a drug for medical or recreational purposes, contact an experienced drug defense lawyer at DeBruin Law, PLLC, today. We have years of experience helping people avoid the worst of their drug-related charges and will fight to keep you from landing behind bars. If this is your second drug charge or if you’ve been convicted in the past, know that we will work diligently to build the strongest possible defense for your case. For a free, initial consultation, call us at 517-324-4303 today.
