Drug Laws and Citations in New Jersey

New Jersey has some of the most stringent drug laws in the United States. The FDA classifications determine the penalties. The more dangerous the substance found in your possession, the harsher the punishment for it. Also, even if a drug is available by prescription, it isn’t legal to have it in your possession. Having prescription drugs in your possession without a prescription is illegal.

Drug Laws and Penalties

The FDA is responsible for the classifications of drugs, and the punishment depends on the dangers associated with the drug found. While New Jersey drug laws have become quite lenient on marijuana, you can still face criminal charges. If you have fewer than 50 g of marijuana in your possession, you can serve up to 6 months in jail. You will also pay $1,000 fine, along with 100 hours of community service. If officers find in possession of over 50g of marijuana, they considered it a felony. As a result, you could end up sentenced to 18 months in jail and a $25,000 fine. The charges are much more serious if you are found selling marijuana.

Possession of more dangerous drugs including heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, and ecstasy will result in a prison penalty of up to five years or a fine up to $25,000. Cocaine and heroin charges are much tougher because of the danger associated with these drugs. More than five ounces of cocaine or heroin is a first-degree felony in New Jersey.

Contact a Lawyer

When legally in trouble, please don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer and seek advice. A lawyer can not only advise you on the drug laws of New Jersey but also help you with your charges and evidence analysis. Your lawyer can handle situations in which drug laws call for driving license suspension and help you avoid them.

If you have a small amount of drug for personal use and this is your first drug citation, a program called conditional discharge can help with avoiding conviction. On the other hand, having multiple drug possession charges could result in harsher penalties. Also, larger quantities of drugs could result in distribution charges. All of these charges can be quite severe and complicated to deal with. Having the support of your lawyer is essential to attain the best outcome for yourself.

It is important to be aware of all the implications of being found with drugs in your possession. If a large amount of narcotics is found in your possession, you may be subject to distribution or possession with intent to distribute charges. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to call Law Office of John C Lannelli at 856-227-2434. We are here to help answer all your questions.

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