Ryan J. Tegnelia is an experienced San Diego criminal defense attorney who understands marijuana charges and how best to defend against them. He will make sure that your rights are protected, and he will fight for a dismissal of or a reduction in charges against you and, if your case goes to trial, for a not guilty verdict.
If you are facing a marijuana possession charge, that is certainly not the end of the story. Variations in offenses may involve the amount of marijuana, where you were charged with possessing the drug, the form of marijuana involved, and what it is alleged you were going to do with it. The answers to these questions can make a big difference in the severity of the charges against you. Here are some of the variations:
Simple Possession
Schools
Hashish
Concentrated cannabis goes by a number of different names. No matter what you call it, the penalties are harsh, certainly by comparison to possession of marijuana. Possession carries a sentence of up to a year in jail; depending upon your prior criminal history, it could be charged as a felony.
Possession For Sale
If the charge against you is possession for sale of marijuana, you are facing a more serious charge than those listed above. Possession for sale is a felony. In order to charge you, it is not necessary that the police have direct evidence that you were trying to sell the drug. Facts such as possession of large amounts of cash, possession of packaging for marijuana, and possession of scales, could allow a jury could conclude that you intended the marijuana not for personal use, but rather to sell to others.
The lesson here is that just because the drug in your case happens to be marijuana, does not necessarily mean that there will be few, if any, serious consequences if you are convicted.
While some marijuana offenses are treated rather lightly under California law, this is not the case with trafficking charges. If the amount is an ounce or less, selling, giving away or transporting marijuana is a misdemeanor. If the amount is more than an ounce, you are facing a felony charge. Additional factors (for example using a minor to sell marijuana) will lead to even stiffer penalties.