Drug Cases
Skilled Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney Can Provide You with the Strategic and Sophisticated Representation You Need When You Face Drug Charges
Top Shelf Legal assistance can provide great comfort during such a difficult time, but your primary concern should be the protection of your liberty and your rights. Contacting an Aggressive Strategic Trial Lawyer with massive experience in Drug cases will help to ensure that you receive the best resolution for your case. Drug crimes can have severe consequences but with the tremendous experience of over 300 jury trials, Kenneth Padowitz can defend your freedom and your life. There may be a motion to Suppress to get rid of tainted evidence. There may be mitigating factors that an experienced lawyer can present to your advantage. Kenneth Padowitz is recognized nationwide as a preeminent legal talent, and having him in your corner is a huge benefit if you find yourself charged in a drug case.
Drug cases can range from simple possession to manufacturing and trafficking. Specific possession charges in drug cases include possession of an illegal substance, possession with intent to sell (which requires that the person possess a certain minimum amount of the substance), and/or possession of drug paraphernalia. These charges can be more or less severe depending on the particular illegal substance in question, the criminal history of the person, and the admissible evidence. State and federal laws on drugs can differ, though usually federal laws are more severe and less flexible than state laws.
Schedule I drugs have a high tendency for abuse and no accepted medical use. This includes heroin, ecstasy, LSD, and marijuana. The classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug is a good example of state versus federal drug laws. In some states, marijuana has been legalized for medicinal purposes. According to federal law, though, marijuana has no inherent medicinal properties and has a high tendency for abuse that requires it to be a Schedule I drug. Schedule II drugs have a high tendency for abuse, but they may also have accepted medical uses. This includes drugs which are not necessarily immediately addictive, but can lead to dependency and/or abuse with chronic use. Cocaine, morphine, and opium are all examples of Schedule II drugs. Schedule III drugs have accepted medical uses and a lower potential for abuse or addiction than Schedule I and II drugs. This includes Codeine, Ketamine, and most steroids.
Schedule IV drugs have a current accepted medical use, and a low potential for abuse and/or addiction. Prescription drugs that treat severe anxiety or depressive states – such as Xanax and Valium – are considered Schedule IV drugs. Finally, Schedule V drugs are approved for medical use and often do not require a prescription. This classification of drugs includes substances that are considered to have a low chance of dependence or abuse. Addiction to Schedule V drugs can and does occur, though, which is why many drug stores regulate the sale of cough syrup that contains substances like Codeine.
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The consequences of drug cases vary depending on the schedule of the drug, the severity of the charge, and whether the illegal activity impacted people beyond the individual in question. A person in possession of minor amounts of a Schedule III drug, for example, would face much lighter consequences than a person charged with manufacturing the same Schedule III drug. Similarly, possession with intent to sell is not nearly as severe a crime as drug trafficking. The sale of illegal drugs – especially to minors, or across state lines – is a type of a drug case that is seen on a regular basis. Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney Kenneth Padowitz provides a strategic criminal defense to those accused of State and Federal Crimes. Kenneth Padowitz, P.A. represents clients throughout Broward County and all of South Florida, including: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Weston, Parkland, Cooper City, and Coral Springs.
If you are dealing with felony or misdemeanor drug charges, contact our law firm for a free consultation.