Drug Offenses
A drug conviction can limit your future job prospects and prevent you from obtaining or maintaining a professional license. Prosecutors take drug offenses seriously, and even a first‑time charge can land you in jail or prison, include fines, and a permanent criminal record.
To protect yourself, you need the experience of The Law Office of Owen M. Patton who understands how to challenge the evidence, negotiate with prosecutors, and fight for the best possible outcome. Ohio’s drug laws involve detailed classifications, mandatory sentencing guidelines, and strict rules about search and seizure. Our firm will analyze your case, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence, and build a strong defense strategy. Owen has personally been involved in hundreds of felony drug cases in his career and has the local knowledge and experience to protect your rights, challenge evidence, and reduce or avoid harsh penalties.
Common Drug Offenses
The most common types of drug offenses in Ohio include drug possession and drug trafficking. Whether you were arrested with a small amount of personal use or a large amount of drugs, you need to call The Law Office of Owen M. Patton, who understands the nuances of Ohio drug laws as the outcomes can include mandatory prison terms. Drug offense punishments are dependent on the type and amount of drug charged in your indictment.
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Drug Schedules
Ohio law divides drugs into distinct classifications called Schedules. In Ohio, there are five different schedules: I, II, III, IV, and V.
Schedule I: These drugs are deemed to have the highest potential for abuse with little to no medicinal purposes. Schedule I drugs typically include Heroine, LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin (Mushrooms), Peyote, and Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice).
Schedule II: This includes drugs that have a high potential for abuse but can have some medicinal purpose. Schedule II drugs typically include opiates, methamphetamine, and cocaine, among others.
Schedule III: This Includes drugs that have a moderate potential for abuse and has established and accepted medicinal uses. Included in this category are opioids, stimulants and steroids
Schedule IV: Includes drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are: Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol.
Schedule V: These drugs have the lowest potential for abuse of all the scheduled drugs.
Understanding “Bulk” in Your Indictment
The severity of potential punishment for drug charges in Ohio is determined by the schedule of the drug and the amount or weight of the drug in the indictment. The “bulk” amount refers to a specific baseline quantity and is unique for each drug as set by statute. Bulk can refer to a specific weight of the drug or a “unit dose” when involving pills. The severity of punishments increases as your quantity above the bulk amount for each drug increases.
Because drug offenses use puzzling terminology, confusing sentencing guidelines and sentencing enhancements, it’s important that you call the Law Office of Owen M. Patton today to start your defense and understand both your indictment and your rights.
Call and Begin Your Defense Today.
