Drug Crimes

Drug Crime Attorneys In Savannah, Georgia

Dealing with a drug charge in Savannah, Georgia, can make you feel helpless. Because you were caught smoking, selling, or producing drugs, you may believe that no one is on your side. In order to better your efforts toward a favorable result in court, you need to first understand the different categories of drugs, the distinct types of charges you could be facing, and how an attorney can make a big difference in your court proceedings. Don’t worry about facing the challenge of going to court alone, our attorneys at the Law Offices of Harold J. Cronk, PC will stand right by your side to make sure your voice is being heard and you are treated according to your rights.

• What Circumstances Lead To Arrests For Drug Crimes In Georgia?
• Could I Be Charged With Selling Drugs Even If I Didn’t Receive Any Money?
• How Is a Drug Charge Determined to Be Charged As a Misdemeanor or a Felony in Georgia?

Categories of Drugs in Georgia

States have their own unique categories for how they classify drugs and the punishments they come with. This classification system is referred to as “schedule” drugs that run from one to five. Drugs are then filed into one of those five schedules based on their accessibility within the medical community as well as their potential risk for abuse. Schedule I drugs are at the most dangerous while Schedule V drugs have a smaller risk associated with them. In addition to “mainstream” drugs such as marijuana and heroin, Georgia also classifies the substances and chemicals that are used to manufacture them.

Schedule I Drugs

This category of drugs has no current use as medicine and has a high potential risk factor for abuse. Drugs in this category include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Because these have no value medicinally and have a high risk of addiction with anyone that tries them, they have the harshest punishments.

Schedule II Drugs

This dangerous classification of substances has a high potential for abuse with the potential for severe physical or psychological dependence. Schedule II drugs are combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dose, including Vicodin, cocaine, methamphetamine, Adderall, and Ritalin.

Schedule III Drugs

These drugs have moderate to low potential for dependence, are used in medicine, and their abuse may lead to low or moderate physical dependence while their psychological dependence is high. Schedule III drugs include anabolic steroids, testosterone, and Tylenol with codeine.

Schedule IV & V Drugs

The last two classifications of drugs have low potential risk for abuse, are commonly used for their medicinal purposes, and have a lower chance for physical or psychological abuse. Schedule IV drugs include Xanax, Valium, and Ambien, while Schedule V drugs include Lomotil, Motofen, and Lyrica.

Because they are categorized based on risk for abuse and dependence, you could be convicted and sentenced based on the classification of drugs you were charged for.

Types of Drug Charges in Georgia

There are five charges you could be potentially faced with: purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution, and sale. The most common of the five is possession. Willfully possessing illegal substances is against the law, whether you’re “holding them for a friend” or not. As a result, possession accounts for over 80% of all drug-related arrests in the United States, according to the Department of Justice.

Regardless of what you’ve been charged with, you need a criminal defense attorney at your side so you’re given a fair chance during your proceedings.