Drug Charges Lawyer in Woodland Hills, CA. Whatever drug accusations you're facing in Woodland Hills, CA, it's not an easy thing to handle. You could be accused of possessing them, selling them, or making them. These charges can include all kinds of substances from prescription medications to opioids. If found guilty, you can face life-altering consequences.
You need representation that will fight for your freedom. You need Woodland Hills, CA's premier criminal defense attorney on your case. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Our local Woodland Hills drug charges lawyers are avaialble 24/7 to help you. We will explore possible defenses, discuss defense tactics, and fight for the best deal or other outcome in your case. To start fighting the charges, contact our representatives at (800) 755-5174 or ask about a free case review online now.
Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer: Page Summary
On this page, you can learn about the importance of having a drug defense lawyer in Woodland Hills, CA, the types of substances considered illegal in Woodland Hills, the most important things to look for in your defense lawyer, strategies we may use in your case, and more.
To focus on a particular topic, you can use the links in the following menu to navigate to a specific topic and learn more:
- Top Reasons to Work With a Drug Crimes Defense Attorney in Woodland Hills, CA
- Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Types and Potential Penalties
- Categories of Drug Charges in Woodland Hills, CA
- How Drugs Can Affect DUI Charges in Woodland Hills
- Top Drug Defense Attorney Qualities
- Possible Defenses That We Use in Drug Cases
- Avenues to Divert Your Drug Charges
- How a Drug Conviction Can Impact Immigration Status
- Drug Charge FAQs
- Contact Your Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Charges Attorney Now
- Every Drug Charge Our Firm Will Fight Against
Don't Waste Time: Contact a Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer RIGHT AWAY
Drug charges in Woodland Hills, CA, always need to be taken seriously. The same action can be interpreted by the state in multiple ways, meaning you're risking years in prison.
The first reason you should contact a drug charges lawyer immediately is to give you an understanding of the accusations. A simple possession case takes a different set of skills than a drug trafficking case, and your drug defense attorney should have strategies to defend your particular charges.
The second reason to get in touch with a local Woodland Hills, CA, drug charges lawyer as soon as you've been accused is to stop yourself from making a mistake. After a police interview without proper legal representation, the charges could be elevated and the state's case strengthened. Your defense attorney can stop you from experiencing self-incrimination.
Lastly, your drug charges attorney will leverage local court relationships to explore different defense avenues. Connecting with a lawyer early lets us build a defense before the prosecution has completed its case, and we can even move to dismiss charges if we act early enough.
Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Types and Their Penalties:
When you work with a Woodland Hills, CA, drug charges lawyer, you should go with an attorney who can defend charges related to the specific kind of drug in the allegations. In the following section, we've outlined some of the substances against which we have practice defending related charges.
| 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 | Also known as MDMA, Molly, and E. Long term use may impair an individual's memory and learning abilities. |
| Cocaine | A highly addictive stimulant which can cause intense effects Its use can harm the brain, as well as several other organs. |
| Methamphetamine | A man-made drug that temporarily boosts energy, while harming the body. |
| Opioids | A category of addictive painkillers. These include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. |
| Heroin | A highly refined type of opioid. 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. |
Potential legal consequences vary significantly based on substance, quantity, your criminal record, and the type of charge. As an overview:
- Most of the time, if you're only accused of possession and not distributing a drug, the charge will only be a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Different prosecutors may treat some substances in a harsher manner, though.
- Possession for sale, sale, transport, or manufacturing are typically charged as felonies, and the sentence can change based on the specific drug and quantity involved.
- Fentanyl carries additional exposure: 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 review and we'll walk you through what you're actually facing.
Marijuana in Woodland Hills, CA
Marijuana Description: Marijuana is a plant which is popularly smoked to get high. California used to outlaw the use of marijuana, however, in 2016 the state passed Proposition 64, allowing it in recreational circumstances.
Because it has been legalized for recreational use, marijuana (AKA cannabis) accusations in Woodland Hills, CA, most often have more to do with how it was used, rather than just that it was 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
- Generally, adults over 21 can grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational purposes
- Still illegal to use or possess under federal law.
How Your Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Can Help: If you're facing marijuana-related charges, our attorneys can help. For example, we can demonstrate that you had the legal right to possess marijuana, demonstrate that you did not exceed state limits, and/or show off the proper regulatory procedures which you adhered to.
Charges a Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer Will Fight in Woodland Hills, CA
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley are an experienced group of drug defense lawyers serving the Woodland Hills, CA, area. We are prepared to fight against accusations including possession, sale, and special enhancements. Read the sections below to learn more about the different categories of charges and how our criminal defense attorneys can help.
Drug Possession/Use Charges
Drug possession charges are some of the most basic in Woodland Hills, CA. They cover a wide range of substances and these charges can apply if the drugs are on your person, in your vehicle, or anywhere you would control access to them.
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Hard Drug Possession
Your Woodland Hills, CA, drug charges lawyer fight for illegally obtained evidence to be thrown out, and can advocate for diversionary programs to keep you out of jail.
Relevant statutes: Health and Safety Code 11350 covers most hard drug possession accusations, while possession of methamphetamine specifically falls under HS 11377. Both are typically charged as misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in county jail, for defendants without disqualifying prior convictions.
Drug Production/Transport/Distribution Charges
Accusations of drug production, transportation, and distribution take on the other side of a drug deal: The alleged 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 charges are almost always treated more harshly than possession/use charges. A drug crimes defense lawyer can help you negotiate a plea to a less serious offense.
Relevant statutes: The two main possession for sale charges you will see in Woodland Hills, CA, are HS 11351 (for most substances) and HS 11378 (specifically for methamphetamine). As a straight felony, each is punishable by two, three, or four years in state prison and fines up to $20,000. HS 11352 converse sale or transportaiont charges for most substances, while HS 11379 does the same for 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 Woodland Hills, 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 cover a variety of situations, but they share one common attribute: They don't qualify on their own. Before you can be charged with an enhancement, you first need to face a different criminal charge.
It's even more important to hire an experienced Woodland Hills, 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 federal government is prosecuting you instead of the state government.
These can include anything from production to transportation to running a drug ring, but most often will involve large quantities and/or crossing state lines. Sentences are often more severe, up to and including life imprisonment and substantial fines.
If you're accused of a drug crime in federal court, you're up against a lot. And you need a an experienced criminal defense lawyer who's prepared to battle the United States government. Our team of attorneys will learn your side of the story, develop a strong defense strategy, dissect the case against you, and make every effort to secure a favorable outcome for you.
Woodland Hills, CA Drug Charges and DUIs
There isn't one single law that completely covers DUIs involving illegal substances. Drug DUI defense cases cover a several situations, including everything from driving while high on marijuana to prescription drug usage. What's worse, you can be taken into custody if there is any amount of THC in your system while driving (as opposed to alcohol).
When facing drug DUI charges, you don't just need a drug charges lawyer. You also need a leading Woodland Hills, CA, DUI defense lawyer who fight on your behalf both in criminal court and at the DMV hearing. Contact a lawyer right away — for most DUI accusations, if you wait longer than ten days to request a hearing, you lose your chance.
Qualities in a Good Drug Charges Defense Lawyer
When picking a drug charges lawyer in Woodland Hills, CA, to take your case, it can feel impossible trying to decide which one to represent you. Your life may depend on it, after all.
Here are the top factors you want to see in your drug allegations defense attorney:
- Extensive Experience fighting against these charges
- Personal Experience as a prosecutor
- Existing Relationships with prosecutors and judges in your local county
- A Track Record of Positive Outcomes versus the prosecution in drug cases
- Availability Anytime in case an emergency occurs and you need help
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we embody each of these qualities. We have over 50 years of combined courtroom experience, including working for the district attorney's office. We have a wide reach with relationships across the state of California. And we have delivered positive results for Californians.
We don't make false promises about your case, and you can call us 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns.
Possible Defense Tactics Against Drug Charges
Your charges might be the same as someone else's, but your case is unique. Everyone in the Woodland Hills, CA, criminal courts is there under different circumstances, and you should have a customized defense plan to protect you.
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: If you did hold or transport illegal drugs, but weren't aware of it, you shouldn't be found guilty because you didn't mean to break the law.
- Not Your Drugs: If the substance in question was, in fact, illegal, but belonged to another person, you shouldn't face possession charges.
- Entrapment: In rare cases, if an undercover officer coerced you into breaking a drug law, you can be found innocent of the criminal charges.
- Prescription: These defenses hinge on your medical status, and if a doctor prescribed you a given substance.
- Plea Negotiations: Plea negotiations not only reduce the level of charges you're facing, but can also open up diversion avenues.
If you're facing drug crime charges in Woodland Hills, CA, and need help, contact our firm for immediate help.
Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options:
Woodland Hills has diversion and treatment options available — be sure to ask your Woodland Hills, CA, drug charges lawyer about whether or not they apply to your case. To qualify, defendants must fit certain criteria. Here are a couple of programs that might apply in your case:
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 main reason people like to take advantage of PC 1000 is it prevents a conviction from going on your record. This protects you from many of a conviction's collateral consequences.
Proposition 36 (2024)
Proposition 36 is another diversion program, designed to help people accused of repeat drug offenses. It was passed in 2024, and is distinct from a previous version of Proposition 36 passed in 2000. It approach drug offense diversion from a unique angle.
Under the current rules, what was originally a misdemeanor charge can be instead charged as a "treatment-mandated felony." This is only an option if the accused person has two or more previous drug-related convictions on their record.
If you're facing this charge, you have a choice: complete court-mandated treatment, you avoid a conviction; if you don't take this option, you'll have to fight the felony charge, with a prison sentence of up to three years. The law also increased potential penalties for large quantities of certain substances and updated firearm-related enhancement laws to include fentanyl on the list of relevant substances.
Your Woodland Hills, CA, drug charges lawyer is here to help you understand the charges, help you decide what route to take, and fight to keep a conviction off your record.
Drug Convictions' Impact on Immigration Status
If you are a lawful permanent resident or are in Woodland Hills, CA, on a work visa, you're facing even more serious consequences than a U.S. citizen — and this is an area where our firm's dual criminal defense and immigration practice gives clients a real advantage.
Most drug charge convictions are grounds for deportation, but there is a sole exception: marijuana charges for no more than 30 grams of the substance, and only intended it for person use, not sale. This can affect 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.
A few key distinctions matter a great deal:
- Simple possession for personal use (other than certain rare substances) is generally grounds for deportation, 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 far more likely to be treated as aggravated felonies, which can trigger mandatory deportation with little to no opportunity for relief or future re-entry.
- How a charge is pleaded matters enormously. Under Padilla v. Kentucky, defense counsel has a constitutional duty to tell you about these immigration consequences before you make a plea. We will fight for an outcome — such as a plea deal for a different offense, or a disposition that avoids specific "aggravated felony" language — that may preserve a client's ability to stay in the country.
Because immigration consequences are triggered by conviction, not just sentence, decisions made early in a criminal case can matter as much as, or more than, the eventual sentence itself. If you are a lawful permanent resident or visa holder up against a drug charge, tell your attorney immediately — this plays a major role in your case, and your lawyer should help you on both fronts.
Drug Charge Frequently Asked Questions
If I'm not found guilty, do drug charges appear on a background check?
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 able to have the arrest sealed or the record cleared — an attorney can help you explore these options.
Do I have to talk to police if I'm caught with drugs?
No. You are not required to answer any self-incriminating questions during an interrogation. Politely but firmly refuse to answer any questions outside of providing your identity, and ask for a lawyer right away — anything you say can be used to elevate a simple possession charge to a possession-for-sale charge.
Can a drug conviction be expunged in Woodland Hills, CA?
If you were given probation, you may be eligible for expungement under Penal Code 1203.4, though whether or not you are eligible can be affected by the specific charge and your previous conviction 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 functions differently: It allows what ordinarily would be charged as misdemeanors to now be charged as felonies, if you have prior drug convictions on your record. However, it also allows for a court-mandated treatment program, completion of which results in the dismissal of felony charges. To learn more about how to explore these paths, speak to an attorney today.
Is a first-time drug possession charge a felony in Woodland Hills, CA?
For most first-time possession cases in Woodland Hills, CA, you'll only face a misdemeanor charge. 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 Woodland Hills, CA, Drug Charges Lawyers Today
This isn't a time to settle for "good enough." Your freedom is important, and it depends on working with the right defense team. Our team is ready to stand by your side.
The Woodland Hills, CA, drug charges lawyers at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley have experience defending against countless drug crime accusations. We are prepared to defend you against a variety of drug charges, both misdemeanor and felony. We will build a strong defense for you against your charges.
We also aid with the following legal services in Woodland Hills, CA:
- Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Theft Lawyer
- Violent Crimes Lawyer
- DUI Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Speak to your Woodland Hills drug crimes defense attorney now at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online to set up a no-strings review of your case.
Drug Charges Our Lawyers Fight in Woodland Hills, CA:
- 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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