Miles Hansford Law Firm
Your Drug Crimes Team
Brian A. Hansford
Partner
Knox L. Allen
Associate
Alpharetta Drug Crime Lawyer
Defending You Against Fulton County, Forsyth County, and Georgia Drug Crime Charges
The police arrested you, and the prosecutor charged you with a drug-related crime. Surprisingly, you’re not alone. Statistically speaking, most people use (or at least try) a recreational drug at some point in life. Some who do this get caught. Others don’t.
We won’t kid you. Any drug-related arrest in the state of Georgia is serious, whether you’re caught with pot in your car or you’re busted trying to distribute narcotics. One conviction — even on a single charge for drug possession of marijuana — can have a devastating effect on your personal freedom and your future. Now is not the time to take risks.
People know they can rely on Brian Hansford, the lead criminal defense lawyer at Miles Hansford, in Alpharetta to provide an aggressive, principled defense and help them get their lives back on track.
Don’t hesistate, contact our 24/7 criminal defense line at 678-343-8075. You can also fill out our simple contact form.
Make Sure You’re Prepared with a Reliable Attorney
People who are convicted of narcotics-related crimes in Georgia are often subject to mandatory sentencing. This means lengthy prison sentences, fines and loss of other personal rights for any drug-related conviction.
The state of Georgia has strict punishments for drug convictions related to:
- Methamphetamine
- Marijuana
- Ecstasy
- Crack
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Oxycodone, Xanax, Lortab and other illegally obtained prescription drugs
Attorney Brian Hansford believes you should have a chance to make things right after your arrest. Whether you go into an alternative treatment program, or we work to get the drug charges dismissed, we will do our best to minimize the impact a drug-related arrest has on your life. Sometimes we are even able to have the drug charges expunged from your criminal record.
Item #1
We Have Handled the Most Severe of Drug Charges
Our commitment to excellence as narcotics crime defense attorneys means we will pursue every available legal way of protecting your freedom. We will examine the evidence and how investigators collected it. If your rights were violated in any way, we will find out about it.
We defend people who are accused of these drug crimes in the state of Georgia:
- Possession of an illegal substance
- Possession with intent to distribute
- Smuggling drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances across state or international lines
- Growing, cultivating or manufacturing illegal substances
- Gun or firearm arrests related to drug crimes
Substances Classified as Controlled in Georgia
Most people are aware it is a crime to possess certain drugs – or “controlled substances”, but they don’t understand how the law works and what penalties are imposed when a drug possession conviction is obtained. Under Georgia state law, drugs are divided into five different types or “schedules,” based on their accepted medical uses as well as their potential for addiction and abuse.
- A Schedule I substance is one that has no accepted medical use and is highly addictive or addictive in nature; includes heroin, MDMA, and peyote.
- Medicinal substances with a Schedule II classification are subject to restrictions and have a high likelihood of addiction and abuse. These include Oxycodone, cocaine, and methamphetamine, among others.
- Anabolic steroids, ketamine, and testosterone are Schedule III substances because they are accepted medically and less likely to be abused or addictive.
- In addition to having a medical use, Schedule IV substances are less likely to be addicted to or abused than Schedule III substances. These substances include Lorazepam, Clonazepam, and Diazepam.
- Substances classified as Schedule V have a medical use and have a lower likelihood of addiction or abuse than substances classified as Schedule IV. These include cough preparations containing codeine, opium, or other substances.
Please contact our office immediately if you have been arrested for any drug-related crime – possession, sales, manufacture – so we can protect your rights and your freedom.
How Long Do You Go to Jail for Drug Possession in Georgia?
In Georgia, the jail time for drug possession varies widely depending on the type and amount of drug, as well as your criminal history. Here’s a rough breakdown:
- Marijuana: Less than one ounce is a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. More than one ounce of possession with intent to distribute is a felony with 1-10 years in prison.
- Schedule I & II drugs (e.g., heroin, cocaine): Possession of any amount is a felony with 2-15 years for the first offense, potentially reaching 30 years for subsequent offenses.
- Schedule III, IV, and V drugs: Possession is a felony with 1-5 years for the first offense and up to 10 years for subsequent offenses.
If you’re facing charges for a drug-related crime, please call our team as soon as possible at 770-781-4100 or use our 24/7 criminal defense line at 678-343-8075. You can also fill out our simple contact form.