Seattle Marijuana Possession Laws

Washington is one of only two states in the United States where possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana is legal. While this is a great law to prevent petty arrests for minor offenses, it can lead to some confusion. As a general rule, marijuana is not legal in Seattle. If you are found to be in possession of over 1 oz. of marijuana, you will be charged with a drug possession offense. Even if it is only slightly more than 1 oz., you could still be looking at serious penalties. Most marijuana charges are misdemeanor offenses, but can still result in up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 in fines. If you have over 40 grams of marijuana in your possession, you will be charged with felony drug possession. A felony offense can lead to long sentences of up to 5 years of jail time, probation, $10,000 in fines and more. Regardless of the offense, it is vital that you call a Seattle drug possession attorney as soon as you can after an arrest in order to make sure you case is handled correctly.

Drug Possession Laws in Seattle

Washington State has relaxed laws on marijuana possession. This does not mean that the laws are relaxed when it comes to possession of other types of drugs. Under Washington's Uniform Controlled Substances Act, charges for possession of any other variety drug are always felonies, even if you only had a small amount. Possession of an illegal drug other than marijuana is a crime and will lead to felony charges. This includes every type of drug broken down into several schedules. Examples of each drug schedule are as follows:

• Common Schedule I drugs:
  
  • Opium derivatives
    
  • Heroin
    
  • Hallucinogenic substances
    
  • MDMA
    
  • Peyote
    
• Common Schedule II drugs:
  • Raw opium
    
  • Methamphetamine
    
  • Codeine
    
  • Morphine
    
  • Oxycodone
    
  • PCP
    
• Common Schedule III drugs:
  • Anabolic steroids
    
  • Benzphetamine
    
  • Amobarbital
    
• Common Schedule IV drugs:
  • Barbital
    
  • Clotiazepam
    
  • Flurazepam
    
• Common Schedule V drugs:
  • All other drugs not covered in another schedule

Possession of any of these drugs will result in a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (UCSA) and can lead to felony charges. In addition, possession of a prescription drug without a valid prescription is also a felony offense under UCSA. Seattle police are always looking to enforce drug crimes and they will not hesitate to make a violation of UCSA arrest.

Seattle Drug Possession Penalties

Any type of drug possession beyond small amounts of marijuana will result in felony charges under 69.50 RCW. In order to discourage drug use and sales in Washington, even first time offenders with clean criminal records will be charged with felonies. A conviction for drug possession is very serious as these are Class C felony drug charges. Class C felony charges include the following penalties:

• Up to 5 years in prison or
  
• Up to $10,000 in fines or
  
• A combination of the these two penalties

A felony conviction will also have long term effects that can make it hard to find employment, educational opportunities and even housing. In addition, if you have drugs in any amount and are accused of attempting to sell them, additional charges could be added to your case. Even possession of small amounts of marijuana can lead to felony charges if there is reason to believe that you intended to sell or distribute it. Distribution of drugs charges are particularly serious so make sure you call an experienced Seattle drug possession attorney right away. The best way of avoiding these penalties is to fight your charges and be found not guilty.

Seattle Drug Possession Defense Attorney

Seattle drug possession attorney Steve Karimi cares about you and wants to help you fight the charges against you and preserve your future. He is constantly learning about news ways to defend clients in order to provide the best service possible. The best way to fight drug charges is often to question the means that the police used to find the drugs in the first place. If the evidence can be suppressed, there is no way to prove you are guilty. Even if you feel that the evidence against you is overwhelming, a Seattle drug possession lawyer can still help you. First time offenders may be eligible to get waivers and alternative sentencing. In some cases you may be able to avoid jail if you agree to enter a treatment program and serve probation.

The most important thing to remember after a drug arrest is that you have options and you are not alone. Our office is here to help you. We will listen to your case and answer your questions. Attorney Karimi is very understanding and only wants to aid you in your fight. If you have been arrested for a criminal drug offense, call the us right now for a free consultation.