Your Trusted Drug Crime Lawyer

We Keep Every Detail in Mind

If you’ve been accused of a drug or narcotics crime (either sales or possession), you need an experienced drug crime lawyer to help you. In Rochester, NY, there’s no better place to turn for a defense attorney than Thomas A. Corletta, Attorney & Counselor at Law. There is more to each case than guilt or innocence—there are frequently technical and/or Constitutional issues (such as search and seizure) involved. Count on Thomas A. Corletta to fight for your rights.

Types of Controlled Substances

You can be arrested for abuse of prescription medication, even if authorized by a doctor, if it affects your judgment or ability to operate machinery or a motor vehicle. While recreational amounts of marijuana have been legalized, it is still illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. This is a specialized area within the field of impaired or intoxicated driving.

Drug or narcotics crimes can involve many types of illegal drugs, which are contained in Schedules. These include:

  • Natural illegal substances derived from plants such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.
  • Prescription medication, such as opiates, analgesics, barbiturates, amphetamines, etc.
  • Synthetic illegal substances, such as methamphetamine

While many controlled substances have psychotropic effects, you can also be arrested for:

  • Possession
  • Selling
  • Distribution of almost any illegal drug, including prescription medication.

Types of Drug Crimes

Possession

You can be arrested for possession of any controlled substance or illegal drug, even if it is not found on your person. You must be able to show you were not able to exercise dominion and control over the drugs and the area in which they were found.

If you are a minor, you may face substantial punishment, even for possession of a small amount of illegal drugs or alcohol.

Use

Use of illegal substances can also result in charges, particularly pertaining to driving. You can also be arrested for your conduct while under the influence of drugs. In certain circumstances, you can be subjected to blood or urine testing, particularly pertaining to driving, or if you drive for purposes of employment.

Distribution/Sale

If police have probable cause to suspect that you are selling or distributing illegal substances or even giving them away, you risk a sale or distribution charge. Penalties can be very severe, particularly on the Federal level.

Involvement of minors or selling within or near a school can result in enhanced penalties.

Decriminalization

Decriminalization for possession of small amounts of marijuana occurred in 2020 in New York. Further, the odor of marijuana alone cannot provide probable cause for the search of a vehicle or person, a significant change from prior law. However, the possession of large quantities of marijuana that are clearly not for personal use can still result in criminal prosecution on both the state and federal levels. The status of marijuana as a controlled substance has not changed under federal law. Finally, the legalization of recreational amounts of marijuana does not impact the prohibition of driving under the influence of marijuana. Such prosecutions have increased since legalization and law enforcement, through use of “Drug Recognition Experts,” have attempted to step up enforcement.
Decriminalization Assistance in Rochester, NY
If you’ve been accused of a drug crime, contact us at 585-546-5072 today!
Thomas A. Corletta, Attorney at Law

Thomas A Corletta Attorney at Law

16 W Main St Suite 204
Rochester NY 14614

Hours
Monday – Friday
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.