Marijuana Charges in Salt Lake
Drug crimes in Utah
can carry strict penalties. Although other states
have passed laws decriminalizing
marijuana,
Utah law continues to
provide for criminal prosecution of individuals found to be in
possession of marijuana, distributing marijuana, or growing marijuana.
Charges for relating to marijuana in Salt Lake can range from a
class B
misdemeanor
(punishable by up to six months in jail) up to more
serious
felony
charges that carries the potential for extended
prison sentences. The level of a marijuana-related charge in Utah can
depend on the amount of marijuana involved, whether there are
allegations of distribution or production, and whether the charge
occurred in a drug-free zone.
If you find yourself facing criminal prosecution for
marijuana charges in Salt Lake City or elsewhere in Utah, it
is vital that you have
the assistance of a skilled and
experienced
criminal defense
attorney. Prosecutors receive extensive
training in the law and how to obtain convictions. You need someone on
your side to ensure that your
rights are protected. Attorney Stephen Howard has a
record of winning
real results
for his clients.
Contact
us now to
see how we can help you.
Defending Marijuana Charges in Salt Lake

Successfully
defending
against a prosecution in a marijuana case requires an understanding of
complicated constitutional law issues, including in
Fourth Amendment search and seizure law and the protections
offered under the Fifth Amendment. Legal issues relating to
"constructive"
possession and "innocent" possession can be critical to mounting a
successful defense. And whether you intend to take your case to trial
or hope to work out a negotiated resolution, it is critical to have an
attorney who understands the complex procedural and evidentiary rules
involved in Utah's criminal court system.
Defending against marijuana prosecution in Salt Lake
can
require
a detailed legal and factual analysis, motions to suppress evidence,
and the complexities
that may be involved in a jury trial. Thorough preparation for trial is
important. But many cases will benefit from a negotiated resolution
process. You and your attorney should engage in a frank discussion of
the strengths and weaknesses or both the defense case and the
prosecution case. A
successful defense often depends on a criminal defense lawyer with the
experience and skills
to understand what strategy is most likely to help you to achieve your
individual
goals in the case.
Criminal defense attorney Stephen
Howard has successfully defended drug cases in Utah ranging from
first-degree felony distribution to misdemeanor marijuana and
paraphernalia charges. He has the experience and skills you need to
help achieve
the best results for your case.
Marijuana Convictions and Consequences in Salt Lake
Despite changing cultural
attitudes toward marijuana, from a legal stand point, you still need to
take seriously any criminal
charges
relating to marijuana possession.
Depending on the circumstances, a criminal charges for marijuana
possession can be filed as either a misdemeanor or felony. At its
lowest level, a marijuana possession charge will be filed as a
class B misdemeanor that carries the potential of up to 180 days in
jail and nearly $2,000 in fines and surcharges.
Distribution of or possession of marijuana with
the
intent to distribute can be filed at the felony level and carries a
possible prison sentence larger fines. Enhancements for possession or
distribution in a drug free zone can significantly increase the
penalties for any marijuana charge.
In addition to the
consequences and penalties imposed directly by
a Salt Lake court for a marijuana charge, drug convictions in Utah
carry
other "collateral" consequences that can include a suspended driver
license, difficulty in obtaining employment, and other limited
opportunities.
Most marijuana possession charges in Salt Lake County are handled
through
one of the municipal justice courts. But even at the misdemeanor level,
a
marijuana possession charge should not be taken lightly. It can still
result in a criminal conviction that can stay on your record and affect
your life in significant ways. At the felony level or class A
misdemeanor level, marijuana charges in Salt Lake must be filed in the
Third District Court in either Salt Lake City or West Jordan.
Legalization of Marijuana - Effects on Salt Lake Marijuana
Cases
Some
other states have made the possession of marijuana
legal, both for
recreational and for medical purposes. But Utah's criminal laws
against the possession, use, or distribution of marijuana are still
enforced by Salt Lake prosecutors and courts.
It
is common for residents of states such as Arizona,
Colorado, and California to be pulled over for traffic violations
while traveling through Salt Lake on I-15 or I-80. Even if a person is
using marijuana based on advice from a doctor, possession or use of
marijuana in Utah can still result in serious criminal charges. If
police find reason to believe that a driver is impaired or even just
has THC metabolite in his or her body, a charge for
driving with a
measurable controlled substance
metabolite (sometimes called a "metabolite DUI") can be filed.
Finding a Criminal Lawyer for Salt Lake Marijuana
Charges
If you are facing criminal prosecution for a marijuana charge in Salt
Lake City or elsewhere in Utah, you
need
a skilled and
experienced criminal
defense lawyer working on your
side. Utah criminal defense attorney Stephen Howard has a
record
of successfully handling
drug cases ranging from first degree felony distribution to misdemeanor
marijuana possession. To see how Stephen Howard can help you
with your case,
contact
us today.
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