Drug Offense Attorney

Defending clients in the Olympia, Tacoma, and Pierce County areas

Click here to view more about Illegal Drugs

A drug offense is the possession, possession with intent to distribute, use, or sale of any illegal drug, intoxicating substance or drug paraphernalia. Penalties vary widely and depend on many factors and circumstances, such as the exact quantity of drug or illegal substance found in your possession, and any previous arrests you may have had.

It would be wise to exert your right immediately to speak to a drug offense attorney, so that you’ll have the best chance possible to avoid severe punishment.

Illegal drugs

The current list of controlled substances includes, but is not limited to:

• Narcotics (opium and cocaine, and all drugs extracted, derived, or synthesized from opium and cocaine, including crack cocaine and heroin)
• Marijuana
• Methamphetamine
• Barbiturates
• Hallucinogenic Substances (LSD, peyote, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, THC, MDA, STP)

Drug courts

Drug courts work with people being charged for the first time with drug felonies and try to have them complete a drug treatment program instead of doing jail time.

Mr. Lane was an integral part of getting Drug Courts started in Mason County, and is still an active member of their Drug Court team.

Since the mid 1990s, more and more drug courts have been established in Washington State.

This is at least partly because jails have become overfull. It’s hoped that putting more emphasis on drug treatment for non-violent offenders, and reserving prison slots for the violent, repeat, or sex-related drug offenders, will save money from the cost of jail maintenance. This saved money can then be put towards more drug treatment programs.

Your drug offense attorney can negotiate for you and help you gain entry to a drug treatment program, if this is your first arrest on a drug charge.

However, if you were to enter a treatment program but not complete it, e.g. by not showing up for an appointment, or by again using drugs, the usual prosecution procedures would be resumed and you’d be charged with the original offense.

VUCSA offenses

Washington State makes a distinction between drug possession on one hand, and intending to deliver or sell drugs on the other. While both can be felonies, if the possession is with the intent to deliver, the classification is more severe. A Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (VUCSA) is a felony with serious penalties including fines and jail time. A second arrest for possession of marijuana or methamphetamines would be a VUCSA.

Recent reforms

Since 1996, the State of Washington has:

• Made personal marijuana use the lowest enforcement priority for the Tacoma Police and City Attorney.
• Decriminalized the sale and possession of syringes.
• Cut the sentences for several non-violent offenses.
• Given judges increased discretion in deciding whether treatment or incarceration would be most appropriate in any given case.

If you’re arrested for a drug offense

Exert your right to speak to a drug offense attorney. Sometimes police officers conduct an illegal search and seizure, or deviate from their proper procedures in some other way. An experienced drug offense attorney can determine if any of your rights were violated, and possibly seek a dismissal of your case.

At our criminal defense law firm, we offer you a free drug offense case evaluation. You will get the help you need, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Drug offense attorney Charles Lane will start working on your case the moment he represents you.

Our unique process gives you immediate and unlimited access to a representative from the firm who will work with you in developing a proactive strategy to help you avoid jail and defeat the charges against you.

You need an aggressive, experienced drug offense attorney working for you now. Find out more about our Criminal Cases, and the Lane Law Firm Criminal Process. Contact Us today!

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