Drug Charges Lawyer in Panorama City, CA. There's no such thing as a "good" drug charge to be accused of in Panorama City, CA. Everything from manufacturing to simple possession can send you to jail. These statutes regulate substances from cannabis to fentanyl. Regardless of the type of substance or specific law you're accused of breaking, on your own, you're staring down massive punishments if convicted.
Stop these charges before it becomes a worst-case scenario. You need Panorama City, CA's premier criminal defense attorney defending your rights. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Our local Panorama City drug charges lawyers are ready for your case today. We will explore possible defenses, discuss defense tactics, and represent you all the way through trial. To begin fighting the charges, contact our attorneys at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online now.
Panorama City, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer: Page Summary
Below, we will go over how a Panorama City, CA, drug defense attorney will protect your rights, categories of drug crime allegations in Panorama City, the key factors you want your defense team to have, effective defense tactics against all sorts of charges, and the intersection between drug charges and DUIs in Panorama City.
If you want to read about a particular topic, click on the appropriate link below to jump ahead and learn more:
- Top Reasons to Work With a Drug Crimes Defense Attorney in Panorama City, CA
- Panorama City, CA, Drug Types and Their Penalties
- Different Types of Drug Charges in Panorama City, CA
- DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Panorama City, CA
- Top Drug Defense Attorney Qualities
- Possible Defenses That We Use in Drug Cases
- Panorama City, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options
- Impact of Drug Crime Convictions on Non-U.S. Citizens
- Drug Charge FAQs
- Need a Drug Charges Lawyer in Panorama City, CA? Call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley Today
- All the Drug Charges Our Team Will Fight Against
Don't Waste Time: Contact a Panorama City, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer RIGHT AWAY
Drug charges in Panorama City, CA, always need to be taken seriously. There can be leeway in what the prosecution decides to charge you with, meaning there's always a risk of years in prison.
The first reason you need a drug charges lawyer right away is to help you interpret the law. A simple possession case looks very different from a possession-for-sale case, and your drug defense attorney should have strategies to defend each.
The second reason to get in touch with a local Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyer first thing in your case is to lower your chances of doing something you shouldn't. When you say the wrong thing to a state representative, the charges could be elevated and the state's case strengthened. A drug charges lawyer can stop you from experiencing self-incrimination.
Finally, your drug charges lawyer will leverage local court relationships to explore different defense avenues. Acting fast lets us build a defense before the prosecution has completed its case, and we can even move to dismiss charges if we can act before the state builds a compelling case.
Drug Types and Legal Context in Panorama City, CA:
When picking a Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyer, you should go with an attorney who can defend charges related to the specific kind of drug in the allegations. Below, we've listed some of the most common substances that are the center of illegal drug cases in the state.
| Drug Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Prescription Drugs | These include substances like Xanax or Adderall, which aren't supposed to be taken without a doctor's authorization. |
| Ecstacy | A man-made psychoactive drug. Use can cause both mood and psychedelic effects. |
| Cocaine | A highly addictive drug derived from a South American plant It is taken in a variety of ways. |
| Methamphetamine | A stimulant known to affect people's energy levels and emotional stability. |
| Opioids | A class of drugs, including both prescription medications and fully illegal types. These include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. |
| Heroin | A very addictive substance, and one of the most dangerous opioids. The state tends to impose harsh penalties in heroin cases. |
| Fentanyl | An extremely dangerous type of opioid — roughly 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the DEA. |
Penalties vary significantly based on the type of drug, quantity, your criminal record, and whether the charge is possession, possession-for-sale, or sale/transport. As an overview:
- Simple possession of most controlled substances is typically charged as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail, though certain substances and circumstances can elevate this.
- Possession for sale, sale, transport, or manufacturing are typically charged as felonies, with sentencing ranges that depend heavily on the specific drug and amount involved.
- Fentanyl is treated extra seriously: Proposition 36 (2024) added fentanyl alongside cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to a list of drugs that trigger felony enhancement when possessed together with a loaded firearm, and it increased sentencing exposure tied to quantity for several substances.
- Federal charges carry their own, generally harsher, sentencing structure.
Every case is unique, and it can be hard to find answers on your own — call us for a free case evaluation and we'll walk you through what you're actually facing.
Marijuana in Panorama City, CA
Marijuana Description: Marijuana is a plant which contains THC, a chemical compound with psychoactive properties. Smoking marijuana used to be illegal in California, but in 2016 the state passed Proposition 64, allowing it in recreational circumstances.
Because California no longer criminalizes using it, marijuana (AKA cannabis) accusations in Panorama City, CA, most often center around when and where it is used. For example, it's legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational use, but growing a seventh is a crime.
Marijuana Legal Overview:
- Adults over the age of 21 can carry 28.5 grams of marijuana on their person
- In most cases, adults over 21 can grow up to six marijuana plants
- Still illegal to use or possess under federal law.
How Your Panorama City, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Can Help: If you're facing marijuana-related charges, we can help. For example, we can argue that you were permitted to have cannabis, demonstrate that you did not exceed state limits, and/or show off the proper regulatory procedures which you adhered to.
Drug Charge Categories in Panorama City, CA
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends a wide variety of drug charges in Panorama City, CA. We help defendants fight against all kinds of drug crime allegations. In the sections below, you can learn about different categories of drug crimes and what a lawyer can do to assist you.
Drug Possession/Use Charges
Drug possession charges are some of the most basic in Panorama City, CA. These can be charged for any illegal substance and these charges can apply in any circumstance where you allegedly owned the illegal drugs, even if you didn't have them physically with you at the time.
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Hard Drug Possession
Your Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyer can help by arguing that the drugs were not actually yours, and can advocate for diversionary programs to keep you out of jail.
Relevant statutes: If you're accused of simple possession of a hard drug, you're liking facing charges for allegedly violating Health and Safety Code 11350, while possession of methamphetamine is instead covered by HS 11377. In most cases, the prosecution will choose to treat these as misdemeanors, limiting the potential sentence to one year in jail.
Drug Production/Transport/Distribution Charges
While drug possession and use charges target the buyer, drug production, transportation, and distribution charges target the seller.
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use
- Drug Trafficking
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Drug Possession for Sale
These allegations are almost always considered more serious than possession. A positive outcome in these cases is often taking a plea deal for a lesser charge. Your drug crimes defense attorney can help you negotiate a favorable deal.
Relevant statutes: HS 11351 covers standard drug dealing charges, formally known as "possession for sale." The exception is methamphetamine, which is covered by HS 11378. For these felony charges, each is punishable by two, three, or four years in state prison and fines up to $20,000. Sale and transportation for sale charges are divided in a similar way: HS 11352 (most substances) vs. HS 11379 (methamphetamine). If convicted, you are looking at an even harsher sentence — up to nine years if the transportation crosses non-contiguous counties. With the help of an experienced Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyer, you can fight for a plea deal that reduces these charges and opens up diversion opportunities.
Drug Charge Enhancements
California's drug charge enhancement laws can be very different from each other, but one thing connects them together: They don't stand on their own. To be charged with an enhancement, you first need to face a different criminal charge.
It's even more important to hire an experienced Panorama City, CA, drug crimes lawyer to defend you in these cases, so that they can fight both the base charge and the enhancement.
Federal Drug Charges
A federal drug charge isn't a 'category' in the same way that the above types of charges are. The difference is that the U.S. government is prosecuting you, not just the Panorama City district attorney.
These can include anything from production to transportation to taking part in a drug conspiracy, but normally it will involve large quantities and/or crossing state lines. The penalties are often much harsher, up to and including life imprisonment and substantial fines.
It's hard to think of many charges worse to face than this. And you need a an experienced criminal defense lawyer with the resources to battle the federal prosecutor. Our team of attorneys will learn your side of the story, research applicable laws, review evidence, and do whatever we can to secure a favorable outcome for you.
The Intersection Between Drug Charges and DUIs in Panorama City, CA
There isn't one single law that completely covers DUIs involving illegal substances. Drug DUI defense cases can include a several situations, including everything from driving while high on marijuana to operating a motor vehicle while impaired by prescribed medication. What's worse, you can be arrested if there is any amount of THC in your system while driving (as opposed to alcoholwhich has a legal limit).
When facing drug DUI charges, you need more than a drug charges lawyer. You also need a leading Panorama City, CA, DUI defense lawyer who fight on your behalf both in criminal court and at the DMV hearing. Don't wait to get help — for most DUI accusations, you only have ten days after an arrest to request a hearing.
Qualities in a Good Drug Charges Defense Lawyer
If you're looking for a drug charges lawyer in Panorama City, CA, it can be a challenge trying to decide the right person to represent you. Your life may depend on it, after all.
Here are the top factors you want to see in your drug crimes defense attorney:
- Extensive Experience fighting these cases in court
- Personal Experience as a prosecutor
- Relationships at the courts in your jurisdiction
- A Track Record of Positive Outcomes versus the prosecution in drug cases
- Availability Anytime so that you can get help when you need it most
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we can deliver on all of these needs. We have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including working for the district attorney's office. We offer legal services throughout California. And we have delivered many victories for our clients.
We don't make false promises about your case, and you can call us 24/7 if you need anything from our offices.
Powerful Drug Crime Accusation Defenses
Whatever law you're accused of breaking, you have your own unique story to tell. No two cases in Panorama City, CA, are identical, and you should have a tailored defense strategy to match.
We'll listen to your story and craft a powerful defense to fit. Here are some staunch strategies your drug charges lawyer will consider:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: By getting evidence thrown out, the case against you can be weakened.
- Lack of Intent: In some cases, you can't be convicted if you broke the law on accident. For example, if police found illegal drugs in your car, but they weren't yours, and you weren't aware of them, you didn't transport them, legally speaking.
- Not Your Drugs: This defense can be used if there were, in fact, drugs present, but you had no control or ownership over them.
- Entrapment: In rare cases, if an undercover officer coerced you into breaking a drug law, you cannot be held liable for doing so.
- Prescription: This isn't an option for every offense and type of drug, but some accusations can be alleviated if you were legally prescribed the substance.
- Plea Negotiations: Not every case can result in a "not guilty" verdict, but there are occasions where a plea deal can lessen the impact of a conviction.
If you've been accused of a drug crime in Panorama City, CA, call our firm today.
Panorama City, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options:
Panorama City has diversion and treatment options available — be sure to ask your Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyer about whether or not they apply to your case. To qualify, defendants must meet legal guidelines. These are some of the :
PC 1000 Drug Diversion
California PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment is is an option that can give you a way to stay out of prison without going through a trial. It generally involves drug education classes, sobriety requirements, and regular drug testing. The advantage of PC 1000 is that you don't end up with a conviction on your record — after completing the program, the case against you is dismissed. This prevents you from going through many of a conviction's collateral consequences.
Proposition 36 (2024)
Proposition 36, which took effect in December 2024, changed California's approach to repeat drug offenses. It's important to understand that this is a different, newer law than the Proposition 36 passed in 2000, and it takes a different approach than a typical diversion program.
Under the 2024 rules, individuals with two or more prior drug convictions can now be charged with a "treatment-mandated felony" for offenses that might otherwise have been charged as misdemeanors. While this doesn't automatically keep people out of jail, it creates a choice: complete court-mandated treatment, you avoid a conviction; fail or refuse treatment, and you face the felony charge, with a prison sentence of up to three years. The law also heightened potential drug crime sentences, depending on the quantity and type of substance, and updated firearm-related enhancement laws to include fentanyl on the list of relevant substances.
Your Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyer will help you navigate treatment-mandated felony charges, advocate for that path where it's available, and fight to keep a conviction off your record.
How a Drug Conviction in Panorama City, CA, Affects Immigration Status
For immigrants in Panorama City, CA, you might have to defend yourself against removal as well as criminal charges — fortunately, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley is experienced in both criminal defense and immigration law.
Most drug charge convictions are grounds for deportation, but there is one specific exception: a simple possession charge with 30 grams or less of marijuana (not for distribution). This applies to lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders) as well as visa holders, and it can be a factor independent of whether or not the conviction includes a jail sentence.
Some important things to keep in mind:
- Simple possession for personal use (for most substances) is generally a deportable offense, but is not automatically classified as an "aggravated felony" — this means that you'll have access to some important immigration relief options.
- Possession for sale, sale, or trafficking convictions are not treated as lightly. They are typically classified as aggravated felonies, which can trigger mandatory deportation and create barriers to appeals efforts.
- How a charge is pleaded matters enormously. Under Padilla v. Kentucky, defense counsel has a constitutional duty to advise a client of these immigration consequences before a plea is entered. Our firm works hard to find outcomes — such as a plea to a non-drug offense, or a disposition that doesn't include specific "aggravated felony" language — that defends your legal status in the country, as well as your criminal record.
Because the conviction, regardless of the sentence, has such a big immigration impact, decisions made early in a criminal case can matter as much as, or more than, the eventual sentence itself. If you are an immigrant fighting a drug crime allegation, tell your attorney immediately — this plays a major role in your case, and your lawyer should help you on both fronts.
Drug Allegation Defense Frequently Asked Questions
If my drug charges are dismissed, can anyone still see them?
Even if you're not convicted of the underlying charge, a background check can still show the arrest. If you were able to take advantage of a diversion program like PC 1000 or Proposition 36, you may be eligible to have the arrest sealed or the record cleared — an attorney can help you explore these options.
If the police catch me with drugs in my possession, do I have to answer their questions?
No. You are not required to answer any self-incriminating questions during an interrogation. Politely decline to answer questions beyond identifying yourself, and ask for a lawyer immediately — making a mistake early on can cause major consequences down the line.
Can a drug conviction be expunged in Panorama City, CA?
If you were given probation, you may be eligible for expungement under Penal Code 1203.4, though eligibility depends on the specific charge and your record. An expungement does not erase a conviction for federal immigration purposes, which is why green card and visa holders need support from a lawyer who can handle both criminal and immigration defense.
What's the difference between PC 1000 and Proposition 36 diversion?
PC 1000 is available for qualifying first-time or low-level possession offenses and leads to dismissal after completing education and testing requirements. The 2024 version of Proposition 36 applies to repeat offenders facing a treatment-mandated felony and requires completing a court-supervised treatment program to avoid the felony consequences. To learn more about how to explore these paths, speak to an attorney today.
If I don't have a record, will my drug possession charge be a felony in Panorama City, CA?
It's rare for first-time possession cases to be charged as a felony in Panorama City, CA — they're typically treated as misdemeanors. Distribution, manufacturing, or trafficking charges are different, though: These are normally treated as felonies, even for a first-time offender.
Don't Gamble With Your Freedom: Talk to Our Panorama City, CA, Drug Charges Lawyers Today
These charges need to be treated seriously Your freedom is important, and it depends on working with the right law firm. We are ready to take your case.
The Panorama City, CA, drug charges lawyers at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are known for delivering positive outcomes for clients. We defend all kinds of major criminal charges, including drug crime allegations. We will always be honest with you and will fight for the best outcome possible.
We also aid with the following legal services in Panorama City, CA:
- Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Theft Lawyer
- Violent Crimes Lawyer
- DUI Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Talk to your Panorama City drug defense attorney today at (800) 755-5174 or contact us online for a confidential review of your charges.
Every Drug Charge Our Lawyers Defend Against:
- Bringing Drugs into a Jail or Prison
- Cocaine
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Drug Crimes with Firearm Enhancements
- Drug Diversion Programs
- Drug-Free School Zone Violations
- Drug Possession for Sale
- Drug Trafficking
- Ecstasy
- Federal Drug Charges
- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl-Specific Enhancements
- Hard Drug Possession
- Heroin
- Illegal Search and Seizure Defense in Drug Cases
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use (HS 11366)
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Marijuana
- Marijuana Charges
- Methamphetamine
- Opioids
- PC 1000 Drug Diversion
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Prescription Drugs
- Proposition 36
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance (HS 11350)
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