Oakland County Possession of Marijuana

Being found with marijuana is a crime that is taken seriously by law enforcement and you do not even need to have used it or be selling it to face severe consequences. A charge for the possession of marijuana should be fought at all costs and our Oakland County criminal defense attorney may be able to help. While a charge for possession may seem like a smaller deal to some, it can come with harsh fees and even jail time.

Penalties if Convicted

Possession of marijuana is covered under Public Health Code §333.7403. It is a misdemeanor offense that is punishable by as much as $2,000 in fines and a year in prison, or a combination of both. In the state of Michigan penalties are separate for those that are found with marijuana and those that are found using marijuana. The use of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor and can lead to penalties of 90 days in prison and $100 in fines. There are also restrictions based on location. If possession takes place within 1,000 feet of a private or public park, then as much as two years in jail may be sentenced.

The possession of a marijuana plant is penalized in a different manner and it is considered to be a felony offense. Those found guilty by the court can deal with a fine of as much as $20,000 and a minimum sentence of four years in jail for under 20 plants. When large amounts of plants are found, the penalties can be significantly increased. If 200 or more plants are found, penalties may include up to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine of ten million.

Repeat offenses could result in even more serious penalties. In Michigan, a second or subsequent marijuana crime is a high court misdemeanor and could result in a double penalty. This means that you'd pay double the fine and spend twice the amount of time in jail.

Protecting You Against Charges

Contact our office if you stand accused. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to defend against allegation and we provide this for our clients. A conviction for a drug crime can lead to greater consequences than just the initial sentencing and we look to protect our clients from these outcomes.