Drug Charges and Possession Lawyer in St Louis

Drug Cases We Handle In St. Louis, MO

When you are caught with drugs in your possession, you are at immediate risk of being charged with a felony and possibly going to jail. Unfortunately, even a very small amount of drugs on your person can lead to a class D felony, which usually results in several years' incarceration.

With such severe penalties in play, our firm finds it critical to move quickly to build your defense. But our firm will also work hard to formulate a defense strategy that is intended to get your charges reduced. We are experienced in proposing alternative diversion programs for rehabilitation instead of punishment. These include drug treatment, drug courts, as well as drug counseling. Furthermore, our firm has worked on a multitude of drug possession cases and delivered positive outcomes in most cases.

We handle:

• Possession or Control (RSMo §579.015) — If you knowingly possess any controlled substance without authorization (for example, a prescription), it is a crime. It is a class D felony. We specialize in:
  • Heroin Possession
  • Methamphetamine Possession
  • Cocaine Possession
  • Prescription Drug Possession
• Possession With Intent To Distribute (RSMo §579.020) — If you distribute or attempt to distribute a controlled substance, have paraphernalia which can be used to distribute (such as scales or bags) or have a large enough quantity, you can be charged with intent to distribute. The charge is anything from a class E to class B felony.
• Drug Paraphernalia (RSMo §579.040) — If you deliver, distribute or sell drug paraphernalia, knowing that it will be used to manufacture, distribute, or use a controlled substance, it is a class A misdemeanor. If it's done for commercial purposes, it's a class E felony.
• Marijuana Charges — Missouri voters recently passed Amendment 3, which legalizes the recreational possession and use of marijuana. However, the manufacture and distribution is still illegal for those without the proper license from the state. The amendment also allows people incarcerated for non-violent marijuana offenses to petition for release, parole or probation, and to have their records expunged. Our Combs Waterkotte drug charge lawyers can also assist with this process.
• Drug Trafficking (RSMo §579.065, RSMo §579.068)— Drug trafficking is when you purchase, attempt to purchase or bring into the state of Missouri a large quantities of controlled substance. First-degree drug trafficking is a class B felony, or class A felony when it involves certain drugs and/or quantities. Second-degree can be anywhere from a class C to class A felony.
• Drug Manufacturing (RSMo §579.055) — Growing, manufacturing or producing a controlled substance is a class C felony. It becomes a class B felony if it's done within 2,000 feet of a school, and a class A felony if someone suffered serious physical injury or died in an explosion resulting in methamphetamine production.
• We also take on:
  Drugs in Vehicle
  Federal Drug Charges

Understanding Drug Schedules in St. Louis and Missouri

The state of Missouri allows the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to categorize controlled substances into 5 "schedules." The schedule related to your drug crimes determines your potential sentence. The department categorizes them based on instructions from Missouri Revised Statute §195.017:

• Schedule I drugs are those that have the highest potential for abuse and have no accepted medical uses, and therefore carry the stiffest sentences. These include opiates, heroin, MDMA, LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms and other hallucinogenics.
• Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse and have an accepted medical use (even if severely restricted). They include cocaine, opium, oxy and morphine.
• Schedule III drugs may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence, and have a currently accepted medical treatment. These include benzphetamine, drugs with a depressive effect, barbiturates, ketamine, certain quantities of codeine, anabolic steroids and antidepressants.
• Schedule IV and Schedule V drugs include numerous prescription drugs.