Drug Possession Attorney in Duplin County

Contact our Duplin County Lawyer

In North Carolina, drug charges are treated very seriously because of the potential danger to the community. If you have been charged with drug possession or a similar drug offense in Duplin County, you will likely be very nervous. You are at risk of facing some of the state's most serious penalties, including loss of your freedom and good name. With the legal experience of a Duplin County lawyer on your side, however, you can be comforted by having a knowledgeable counselor and aggressive representative fighting for you.

Drug Possession Schedules and Penalties

According to N.C. 90-95 (a) (3), charges for possession of drugs in this state are divided into different schedules depending on their severity, amount of drug, and type of drug.

The six different schedules begin with the most severe drugs down to the least and are divided in the following manner:

Schedule I

• Opiates and opium derivatives
• Hallucinogenic substances (MDMA, MDA, LSD, MDE, Mescaline, Peyote)
• Various Quaaludes

*charged as a Class I Felony

Schedule II

• Raw opium/opium extract
• Codeine
• Hydrocodone/oxycodone
• Cocaine
• Morphine
• Amphetamine/Methamphetamine
• Methadone
• Pentobarbital/Amobarbital

*charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor, unless the drug is cocaine, methamphetamine, more than 100 tablets/dosage units, or more than 4 units of hydromorphone, in which case it is a Class I felony

Schedule III

• Anabolic steroids
• Drugs with small amounts of codeine, dihydrocodeine, opium, morphine

*Charged as Class 1 misdemeanor

Schedule IV

• Bromazepam
• Diazepam
• Lorezapam
• Phenobarbital
• Certain stimulants

*Charged as Class 1 misdemeanor

Schedule V

• Mixture of small amount of codeine, dihydrocodeine, or opium and a non-narcotic active ingredient

*Charged as a Class 2 misdemeanor

Schedule VI

• Marijuana
• THC

*up to ½ ounce is charged as a Class 3 misdemeanor, ½ - 1 ½ oz is charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor, and more than 1 ½ oz is charged as a Class I felony

Drug Possession with Intent to Distribute

In North Carolina, the crime of drug possession with intent to distribute, also known as drug trafficking, is a more serious crime than drug possession for personal use. The possession of a specific large amount of any controlled substance can result in a conviction for a trafficking offense. For a first-time offender of drug trafficking, a person can face a mandatory prison sentence. The specific sentence will be based on the type and amount of drug involved.

Arrested by D.I.C.E. after a Routine Traffic Stop?

Often times, clients will come to us and say that they were pulled over on the I-40 for an unknown traffic violation, and then were arrested for drug possession after the officer searched their vehicle. The Duplin Interstate Criminal Enforcement (D.I.C.E.) is well-known for its regular patrol and frequent arrests on I-40 and other highways in the area. Their officers will pull someone over for speeding, or another violation, but will then ask the driver to search the car for drugs, or will use a drug dog to create a reason to search the car with probable cause.

Whether you are a resident of the area or live out-of-state, these charges can be serious. If you've been stopped on I-40 by the D.I.C.E. team, then please don't wait to talk to our attorneys. These stops are often unconstitutional and we can help you defend your drug possession case, as well as any other traffic violations that you may have.

Contact Our Office for a Free Case Evaluation?

If you have been charged with drug possession of any kind, we advise you to schedule a free case evaluation with our Kenansville attorneys.