Drug Charges Attorney

Resolving Marijuana Possession Charges in North Texas

Misdemeanor Drug Charges | Misdemeanor Juvenile Drug Crimes Lawyers

In recent years, decriminalization and medical marijuana campaigns around the country have gathered enough momentum that sometimes people forget that possession of marijuana and other controlled substances is still a serious criminal offense under state and federal law.

If you have been arrested on charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine or prescription drugs without proper authorization, get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer who knows how to deal with the charges against you while protecting your continuing interest in a clean record. Contact Gibbs Nolte Robison Rose, PLLC, in McKinney for a free consultation.

Legal Advice for Adults, Professionals, Students and Juveniles

Texas no longer hands out stiff prison sentences for possession of marijuana in small enough amounts to be considered for personal use. Nevertheless, it takes skill to deal with misdemeanor drug charges in ways that will protect long-range personal, professional and educational interests. For example, conviction of marijuana possession punished by nothing worse than an order for drug treatment and perhaps some community service will still endanger a college student’s access to federally insured student loans.

Someone licensed to practice in a profession like teaching, nursing, coaching or law might find it necessary to answer an ethical investigation or disciplinary complaint after a guilty plea to misdemeanor drug possession. Our goal as defense lawyers is to help you understand your full exposure to punishment on a given set of charges, then develop and present the defense that will work best to protect you now and in the future.

Looking Past the Surface of an Attractive Plea Offer

Marijuana charges no longer will expose the defendant to a serious risk of jail time, but they are not as easy to get rid of as you think either. Possession of less than two ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law. While the defendant will often be eligible for deferred adjudication, which basically means that the charge will go away after successful completion of a period of pretrial probation, only Class C misdemeanors are eligible for deferred disposition.

The difference basically concerns the defendant’s right to eventual expunction of the charge — criminal records under deferred adjudication can be protected from disclosure to nongovernmental entities, but they cannot be expunged. In other words, many people will only find out the hard way that they should not have agreed to what appeared to be an easy plea agreement on a Class B misdemeanor marijuana charge.

Contact a Skilled McKinney, Texas Drug Defense Lawyer Today at 972-725-1307 for Misdemeanor Drug Charges Advice

At Gibbs Nolte Robison Rose, our attorneys help you understand your situation not only in terms of the immediate charges, but also to protect your long-term interests. We will give you accurate advice about the consequences of accepting a guilty plea as opposed to the risks and benefits of a trial defense. The decision you make will be based on a thorough understanding of the legal and practical aspects of your case.

If you choose to fight the charges of drug possession, our experience with search-and-seizure law, suppression hearings and other tactics will help you mount a vigorous defense. Our goal is to compel the dismissal of as much of the case against you as possible.

To learn more about the ways our experience with the defense against drug possession charges can help you avoid mistakes and protect important personal interests, contact Gibbs Nolte Robison Rose in McKinney for a free consultation.