Understanding Marijuana Possession Charges In Arizona
Arizona has some of the toughest laws in the country when it comes to possession of marijuana. While many states have decriminalized or even legalized possession of marijuana or medical marijuana, possession of any “usable quantity” in Arizona can lead to a felony charge.
Consequences for Marijuana Possession in Arizona
Those convicted of first- or second-time possession of marijuana in an amount less than 2 pounds will likely be eligible for a probationary sentence. However, possession at or above the “threshold amount” of marijuana means that the police will likely assume that you are possessing that marijuana for sale.
Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyers
Our Strategy In The Courtroom
When facing charges for possession of marijuana, it is critical to have an experienced attorney on your side. With several decades of experience, our lawyers at Tait & Hall are skilled in determining an appropriate courtroom strategy for cases involving drug crimes.
To secure a conviction, the state must show that a person possessed the marijuana “knowingly.” If the state can show that the marijuana was left by a friend, roommate, or someone else, and that the defendant was unaware of its presence, a dismissal or “not guilty” verdict is possible.
Further, police often locate the marijuana during an unconstitutional search, whether it be of someone’s vehicle, home or person. If this occurs, we may be able to get the evidence suppressed.
A thorough investigation by our skilled marijuana possession attorneys could reveal additional defenses to help you.
Pursuing Alternatives To Steep Consequences
Additionally, Tait & Hall’s team of Arizona criminal defense lawyers may be able to negotiate a resolution to your case that will ease the burden of the consequences at stake. We may be able to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor, or gain you entry into the TASC program.
A TASC program is a deferred prosecution program which allows a person to earn a dismissal of their charges by submitting to random drug tests and completing a drug education course. Upon completion of the program, the charges will be dismissed and the prosecutor can never refile the same charges.
Get An Experienced Attorney On Your Side
After an arrest on possession of marijuana charges, exercise your right to remain silent as well as your right to counsel.
Call our Phoenix office at (480) 405-6767 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.