Criminal defense attorneys deal with a wide variety of crimes, but drug offenses continue to be one of the most common in the country. From prescription drugs to cocaine, you could be fined or sent to jail for using, providing, or just possessing controlled substances. To learn more about the offenses criminal defense attorneys help their clients through, take a look at the following guide.

What Are the Main Types of Drug Crimes?

Drug crimes are based on “controlled substances,” drugs which the use and distribution of are regulated by federal and state laws. If a citizen is caught selling, delivering, or providing controlled substances illegally—someone other than a pharmacist with a prescription or a doctor at their place of work—they could be charged for distribution or trafficking. There are also charges for manufacturing controlled substances illegally.

The most common drug crimes are possession and DUI. To be charged with possession, you don’t even have to consume the controlled substance—you can simply be charged for having it in your pocket, home, or car. If you do take a controlled substance and are pulled over while operating a vehicle, you could be charged for a DUI. 

What Should I Know About Drug Crimes in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, drugged driving falls under the DUI offense. The first and second offenses are considered misdemeanors and could result in fines of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to a year. You could also have your license revoked for 10 years. By the third and following offenses, a DUI is considered a felony, and licenses are revoked for life.

Possession of cocaine is considered a misdemeanor in the state of West Virginia, and it could result in up to six months of jail time and a $1,000 fine. West Virginia doesn’t differentiate between crack and powder cocaine, leading to a controversial uptick in crack cocaine offenses and sentences. In 2017, the Governor made medical cannabis legal in the state, but the program’s rollout has been delayed due to funding issues. Offenses can still be earned for recreational marijuana use.

If you’re looking for a skilled criminal defense attorney to help you with a drug crime, get in touch with Kratovil Law Offices, PLLC of Charles Town, WV. They have three decades of experience handling a wide variety of drug-related offenses in the Eastern Panhandle, but they also take on personal injury, business law, and bankruptcy cases. For more information on their work, visit the website, or call (304) 728-7718.