Tacoma Drug Crimes Lawyer

If you’ve been arrested for a drug-related crime or you are about to be, you may be facing years in prison. Understandably, the loss of your freedom is a daunting prospect and one that you need to fight with the help of an experienced Tacoma drug crimes lawyer.

Many defenses are available, which is why it is important to have a skilled criminal defense attorney working to determine what grounds might be available to have the charges dropped or reduced.

Why Should I Hire a Drug Crimes Lawyer?

Your Tacoma criminal defense lawyer should be one who’s been around the block a few times, knows the ins and outs of the criminal justice system, knows the law and how it’s been applied in prior cases, and understands the political climate and how it affects the way drug prosecutions are being conducted. Federal and Washington State government policies pushing for aggressive prosecution and severe penalties for drug crimes, make it imperative to hire the best drug crimes attorney available in Tacoma.

Knowledge is power, and when you have a knowledgeable drug crimes lawyer in your corner, the odds of a favorable disposition of your case are much greater than if you take your chances with a public defender or a general practice lawyer.

You need a defense attorney who can investigate the police procedure leading up to your arrest and immediately afterward, and who will examine and interpret every piece of evidence to develop a powerful, persuasive, and creative defense strategy–while protecting your constitutional rights at every stage of the process.

Washington Drug-related Crimes by City

According to 2016 data from the FBI, Tacoma had 1,471 crimes against society reported and of those, 1,132 were drug/narcotic offenses. With the high prevalence of drug crimes and stiff penalties, it’s essential to have an experienced Tacoma drug crimes lawyer on hand to handle your case. This FBI drug offenses data shows reported drug crimes by all law enforcement agencies in Washington State from 2016.

Defending Against Drug Crimes in Washington

A drug charge is built on physical evidence. An officer seizes it, runs a presumptive field test, sends it to a state crime lab for confirmation, and logs it into storage. Mistakes at any of those steps can weaken the case against you or even eliminate it.

Depending on the facts of your arrest, we may challenge:

• Whether the substance was yours or simply within reach in a shared car, apartment, or bag
• Whether the roadside field test held up once the crime lab ran a confirmatory analysis, since field kits sometimes produce false positives
• The recorded weight of the substance, which can decide whether you face a misdemeanor or a felony
• Gaps in the chain of custody between the scene and the evidence room
• Whether a confidential informant’s account can be corroborated by anything else
• Statements officers attribute to you, including when they were made and whether they were recorded

What Are the Penalties for Drug Crimes in Washington State?

Depending on the substance involved, the quantity, and what the state says you planned to do with it, drug crimes in Washington are classified as a gross misdemeanor or a felony. Generally, possessing a controlled substance for personal use is a gross misdemeanor. Manufacturing it, delivering it, or possessing it with intent to do either is a felony.

Simple possession or public use under RCW 69.50.4013 carries up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If you have two or more prior convictions under that statute after July 1, 2023, the maximum jail term increases to 364 days.

Felony charges under RCW 69.50.401 are graded by substance type and quantity. The statute produces two outcomes in most cases:

• Class B felony: Schedule I and II narcotics, methamphetamine, amphetamine, and flunitrazepam. Up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 for quantities under two kilograms. At two kilograms or more, the fine climbs to $100,000 for the first two kilograms plus $50 for every additional gram.

• Class C felony: All other controlled substances covered by the statute. Up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Drug Crime Laws in Washington State

State drug charges in Pierce County are filed under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50 RCW. Prosecutors call these VUCSA offenses. The Act sorts substances into five schedules based on whether a drug has an accepted medical use in treatment and how likely it is to be abused or lead to dependence. Schedule I covers substances the state treats as having no accepted medical application, such as heroin and MDMA, while Schedule V covers the lowest-risk substances.

Previously, possessing a controlled substance could be charged as a felony. The law shifted in February 2021, when the Washington Supreme Court decided State v. Blake. The court struck down the felony possession statute. As of July 2023, simple possession has been a gross misdemeanor. The current statute encourages officers to offer a referral to assessment and services instead of booking you into jail, and it gives prosecutors room to divert your case rather than file charges.

Marijuana operates under its own rules. Adults 21 and over may possess one ounce of usable cannabis, seven grams of concentrate, 16 ounces of solid infused product, or 72 ounces in liquid form. Going over those amounts, passing any quantity to someone under 21, or growing plants outside the medical framework can still lead to criminal charges.

Drug Substance and Paraphernalia Cases

At the law offices of Mark Treyz in Tacoma, Washington, we handle crimes related to these drugs and more:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Ecstasy
• Methamphetamine
• Hallucinogens
• Crack
• Heroin
• Opiates and opioids
• Pain killers

What are the Different Types of Drug Charges?

• Possession
• Trafficking
• Sale and distribution
• Manufacturing
• Cultivation
• Importation
• Possession of paraphernalia

Is Drug Possession a Felony in Washington State?

The state of Washington allows the recreational and medical use of marijuana, within limits. Drug possession can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony, depending on the type of drug and the amount that was in possession and the defendant’s criminal history. Possession of a controlled substance can be prosecuted as a Class A, B or C felony, and depending on the severity of the case, the penalties range from a few years in prison to a lifetime.

Thorough Preparation for an Aggressive Drug Crimes Defense

With over 30 years of experience in Washington’s criminal justice system as a criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor and pro tem judge, Mark Treyz has an intimate knowledge of the way the system works. He knows that every case must be thoroughly investigated and meticulously presented with a view toward having the charges dropped or reduced, negotiating to get you into a diversionary program, or winning an acquittal at trial.

Call Tacoma drug crimes attorney Mark Treyz immediately if you’ve been arrested or if police have attempted to question you, before you answer any questions.

Can Drug Charges be Dropped?

Mark will examine the evidence to determine if it is likely to be sufficient for a conviction. He’ll look at the initial contact with police to determine if your rights were violated if they had probable cause for a search and seizure, whether the search warrant was properly obtained, or if there was an illegal entrapment. He’ll determine if you were informed of your rights and if you understood those rights. If your constitutional rights were violated at any point, Mark will work to have the criminal charges dropped.

If you are a first-time offender, you may be eligible for a diversionary program or drug treatment in lieu of jail time. If your case does go to trial, Mark will examine every piece of evidence the prosecutor presents in minute detail and will question witnesses to determine their reliability or veracity.

If you want to testify on your own behalf, our criminal defense lawyer will see that you are thoroughly prepared.

Contact a Tacoma Drug Attorney Today

Your future is at stake. Protect your rights, your freedom, and your future by experienced Tacoma drug crimes lawyer, Mark Treyz, without delay.

The initial consultation is free and payments can be made over time.