Use and Simple Possession of Marijuana
In the state of New Jersey if you have been arrested, charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law for the simple use of marijuana, you may not be facing a lifetime in prison, but a marijuana bust can still have very serious consequences, including the loss of your driver’s license and a mark on your permanent record (which can make it difficult to find a job).
If you’ve been arrested for simple marijuana use, and have no prior arrests on your record, the defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall may be able to have the charges dismissed or suspended, pending completion of a period of probation and drug counseling.
Possession of Marijuana
Unlike the case with other illegal drugs—such as heroin and crystal meth—a person would have to be caught holding a very large amount of marijuana (more than a pound or so) to be subjected to the most severe possession charges. However, convictions for the possession of even small amounts of marijuana can still have their consequences — any conviction or arrest on your record can affect employment opportunities, make it harder to get scholarships or even rent an apartment. And, you could even lose your driver’s license for a conviction of possession of marijuana.
Because it’s so commonly used, the possession of marijuana is often seized on by police when they’re looking for a tangible reason to bring in a suspect (or throw an undesirable person in jail.) Marijuana is often the focus of illegal search and seizure cases, in which cars at traffic stops, or even people on the street, are searched for contraband without any reasonable suspicion that they’re engaging in criminal activity. If you feel that your arrest for marijuana possession has been the result of an illegal search and seizure by police, the attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall will work to assert your rights.
Charged With an Drug Crime Involving Marijuana? Let Our New Jersey Defense Attorneys Help You.
In New Jersey, matters involving drug crimes are complicated by added penalties for possessing marijuana near a public school, housing project or park. If you have been charged with possession, growing, manufacturing, distribution or trafficking of pot you need a lawyer who knows how to prepare the best legal defense possible. Our New Jersey criminal defense lawyers will work hard to reduce the charges against you, or, if you are innocent, to have the charges dismissed.