Cleveland Drug Possession Lawyers

Possession of a Controlled Substance Charges in Ohio

In Cleveland, it is a crime to knowingly obtain, possess, or use a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog (known as “designer drugs”) as described in ORC 2925.11. Sentencing for these crimes is complicated and relies on Ohio’s Schedule of controlled substances and the quantity of the controlled substance involved.

To determine what the possible penalties for possession of a controlled substance, you need to know:

• What drug you are charged with possessing
• How much drug you possessed
• Where you possessed these drugs

The law treats the possession of marijuana more leniently than possession of cocaine or heroin. For instance, if you are arrested with 100 grams of cocaine, you face 3 to 11 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. However, if you are arrested with 100 grams of marijuana, you face a maximum of 6 months in jail.

Defending Your Rights Against Charges of Possession

There are numerous ways to defend these cases as each case is unique. At a bare minimum, each case needs to have what is called a suppression hearing.

A suppression hearing is where the attorney challenges:

• The reason for your arrest
• The reason for any search
• The science behind the drug analysis
• The conclusions regarding amount of the drug
• Anything else that is relevant to the case

It is important in defending these cases to know your goal. Are you a college student? You risk losing all of your financial aid. Are you a professional? You have professional licensing issues that you need to avoid. Everyone has something to lose if these cases are not handled the right way. Call us at (440) 709-8088. Ask to speak to one of our attorneys personally about the facts of your case. The call is completely confidential and without any obligation. If we agree to take on your case, our team of ex-prosecutors will go to work fighting for you.

If you have been charged with the possession of a controlled substance under R.C. 2925.11, you face some serious penalties. You need to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense team. Call us now!