Drug Possession Lawyers Ready to Help
Alberta Legal has a team of highly experienced criminal defence lawyers ready to help you fight your drug charges. Regardless of the specific drug offences you are charged with, our experienced defence lawyer in Calgary will defend you.
Therefore, instead of calling different law firms and going through consultation after consultation, criminal lawyer in Calgary Each lawyer in our team is skilled and part of a team you can trust to fight for your rights. defend your freedom.
The unique nature of drug-related prosecutions requires the knowledge, skill, and experience of a competent criminal defence lawyer. Luckily, our lawyers excel at assessing case facts and identifying any weaknesses that an untrained individual cannot.
We will defend your Drug Charges
Facing allegations related to drug offences or facing drug charges can be terrifying. Criminal drug laws in Alberta cover drug trafficking, possession, importation, production, possession with intent to traffic, and being involved in any of these activities.
These drug offences are usually prosecuted under Alberta’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. If you are charged with any drug crime, you should consult a knowledgeable criminal defence lawyer who understands criminal law, specifically drug law. Such a lawyer can analyze your case, implement an effective defence strategy, and defend you.
Our team of Calgary criminal defence lawyers have a combined 70+ years of actual experience defending clients across the country. We understand charges related to drug possession and how they can affect your life. That is why we will defend you vigorously against all the drug charges against you.
Legal Advice from Knowledgeable Lawyers
Every offence under Alberta’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act carries a minimum jail sentence and criminal record once you are convicted. This is the reason you should contact a skilled lawyer the moment you realize there are drug-related allegations or charges filed against you. The sooner you hire a professional defence lawyer, the sooner you can begin preparing for your court case.
A Team of Skilled Lawyers Serving Alberta
When you need the legal advice and representation of any member of our team, you will need to schedule a free consultation. During this initial meeting, we will focus on learning the facts of your drug case and arrest, and determine the most effective defence strategy. The free consultation session will also allow us to gain insights into areas that require further investigation and offer you our professional guidance.
When you choose to retain one of our skilled lawyers, you will obtain reliable legal services. Our clients’ drug charges are never passed down to different associates. The specific lawyer you connect with and build a professional relationship with is the same lawyer who will manage your case even during the trial in court.
Experienced Calgary Drug Charge Lawyer
Drug-related criminal charges vary widely. The specific drug charges and mandatory minimum sentences differ depending on the quantity and type of drug. Our skillful lawyers will explain your case circumstances and offer professional guidance throughout your case process.
Let us Create and Implement an Effective Defence Strategy
There are different classifications of drug offences under the criminal law. These include drug production, possession, trafficking, importation, and more. In some drug cases, the alleged offender may also face additional charges like firearm possession. At Alberta Legal, we will focus on understanding your case facts to create a customized defence strategy.
Common Drug Offences
Two issues may arise in a drug case – whether or not you can prove legal drug possession beyond reasonable doubt and secondly, how the law enforcement obtained the alleged drugs in your possession. Other potential defences include proof of the nature of the substance, whether or not you possessed the drug for the alleged purpose, or the specific activity occurred.
Remember, drug law is complex and having an experienced lawyer who understands the prosecution process and can implement an effective defence strategy is crucial.
Drug Categories
So, what is classified as a controlled substance? In Alberta, there is no minor drug charge offence. Even after the recent marijuana legalization, drugs are illegal and usually viewed as serious offences that carry severe penalties.
Generally, drugs can be classified depending on how seriously the federal and provincial government considers them. Schedule 1 drug charges involve cocaine and its derivative drugs, heroin, or opium-based drugs and are considered the most serious.
Schedule 2 drug offences include marijuana and its derivative drugs. These offences are often classified depending on the weight of the drugs involved. Schedule 3 drug offences majorly cover ‘designer drugs’ like magic mushrooms, hallucinogens, amphetamine-derivatives and other stimulants or sedatives.
Fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, carfentanil, and other substances classified as hard drugs carry more severe penalties than soft drugs such as marijuana. Note that marijuana offences are currently being prosecuted under the recent Cannabis Act.
Are you charged with Drug Possession?
Being in possession of drugs does not necessarily mean you had them physically. These charges apply when you, the accused, know about having a prohibited substance in your car, home, and more.
Sure, most Canadians believe that you must physically have the drugs to be charged with possession of drugs. However, you can even be charged with drug possession for being in the presence of someone with them. That means a group of people can be convicted of joint possession.
drug trafficking
Generally, drug trafficking involves anything from drug transporting and selling to merely giving individuals the drug. For instance, sharing an illegal drug is considered drug trafficking. The moment you are found in possession of drugs, the question is whether the drugs were for the purpose of trafficking or personal use.
Possession of drugs for sale or distribution to earn profit can worsen your drug trafficking charges. Similarly, being involved in a significant illegal commercial enterprise can be perceived negatively by the court. That is why it is crucial to have an experienced drug charges lawyer who understands drug trafficking charges and the entire legal process.
Drug Importing & Exporting
One of the most severe drug crimes is importing drugs into Canada. If you are facing allegations or charges related to controlled substance importing or even exporting, consult a skilled criminal defence lawyer immediately. These drug crimes are complex because they involve a detailed analysis of drug transportation across the border.
Note that a citizen’s rights are often reduced after crossing the Canadian border. That means drug importation charges are challenging because the offence comes from outside the country. A conviction could carry maximum penalties and a criminal record. You need a lawyer with both knowledge and experience to defend such cases.
DRUG PRODUCTION
The Crown considers drug production and other related crimes, such as controlled substance possession for the purpose of trafficking, serious charges. Drug production encompasses the process of creating controlled substances such as methamphetamines, cultivation of illegal drugs, and more. Even the owners of controlled substance-producing premises may also be charged with drug production.
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Experienced Drug Possession Lawyers in Calgary
In Alberta, drug charges are associated with varied penalties upon conviction, and we understand these penalties. The CDSA mandates jail time for every grave drug offence. Similarly, a maximum penalty is less likely for actual possession of a small drug quantity, especially if there are no aggravating factors or prior drug convictions.
Beyond the immediate legal consequences, being convicted of any drug offence can affect your personal and professional life. Having a criminal record can limit your job opportunities, especially in roles that involve vulnerable populations and finance.
Travelling to the United States and other countries where drug-related violations are taken seriously can be difficult. Considering these harsh consequences of a conviction, we will work tirelessly to defend you.
At Alberta Legal, our skilled lawyers have successfully defended many drug cases and helped individuals charged with various drug offences. Depending on the nature of your drug offence, personal circumstances, the nature of the controlled substances involved, and the alleged drugs in your physical possession, a drug conviction can carry far-reaching consequences such as a criminal record, up to life imprisonment, and more.
Certain drug offences, especially those with aggravating factors, carry a maximum penalty if you are found guilty. So whether you are charged with controlled substance use, drug possession, trafficking, selling drugs, or any other drug offence, contact us. We will assess your case facts and prepare a strong defence.
Client’s Experience With Our Lawyers
Our Success stories
Liam Nelson
Dedication, Support, Ethic, Knowledge, Experience, Sharp and Direct. All the qualities your are looking for in a lawyer, they have it all and some. But JILLIAN WILLIAMSON was my guardian angel. Being a Client, I was comfortable to blindly leave my fate in their hands. That was a real well placed investment in the future of my life. I second, promote, referred and all the synonym possible to anybody facing an up hill battle and needs the support and experience to help you go through it.
K. V
I am so very pleased with the work Mathew Deshaye put into my case! He genuinely is a good person, and is determined to get justice. Matthew is extremely professional and I couldn’t have been happier with having him represent me. I’m glad that I could work with him. Dina his assistant was also great with communicating back and forth with me. I made the right choice by retaining Matthew as my lawyer and I hope you do the same. I am in tears with how grateful I am. I’m so very thankful for the work and research that went into helping me with my case! Thank you! 🙂
Jan Ciganik
I was involved in a motor vehicle case and I knew I needed outstanding representation. Jim Lutz, Lacey and his team were nothing short of perfection. I was thoroughly impressed how he handled my case with expedited tenacity. The judicial system can be very confusing with how everything works ,but Mr. Lutz was very easy to communicate with and simplified everything. If you need a lawyer who is on the ball, Jim without a question is the person who should represent you. I highly recommend Mr. Lutz and his team! Thank you very much Sir and your team for all outstanding professional services.