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Being charged with a drug crime in Chicago can be an incredibly scary experience. At Okabe & Haushalter, our qualified and experienced team is ready to help when you need a Chicago drug crime defense attorney by your side. The state and federal government have virtually unlimited resources that they can use to aggressively prosecute anybody charged with a drug crime. That is why you need to have an attorney by your side who has a thorough understanding of the charges levied against you. You deserve to be defended in the courtroom when facing any drug crimes in Chicago.
The state of Illinois has very strict laws regarding the manufacture, possession, and distribution of controlled substances. The Illinois Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570) provides an extensive list of illegal substances, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and even steroids or illegally obtained prescription drugs. At the criminal defense firm of Okabe & Haushalter, we provide skilled defense for the following drug crime charges:
Depending on the type of controlled substance and the amount in question, the penalties for drug crimes can vary from misdemeanors to felonies. Most offenses are felonies, however, and they can even be federal charges in extreme cases. For example, possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana will result in 30 days to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $200,000. Possession of more than 30 grams is a felony, and trafficking more than 5,000 grams of cannabis could land you in prison for 30 years or more. For cocaine or heroin, possession of less than a gram can still result in a seven-year jail sentence. Possession of more than 900 grams will incur a maximum prison sentence of 60 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
You need to assume that state and federal authorities are concerned about any drugs and will aggressively pursue anybody accused of possessing, manufacturing, or distributing the following:
Aside from possessing an illegal narcotic, residents in Chicago will face even stiffer penalties related to delivering, distributing, or manufacturing illicit substances.
Illinois became the 11th state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana. New laws that legalize certain amounts of marijuana took effect on January 1, 2020. However, this does not mean that all quantities of marijuana are legal, and it does not mean that any other drugs have been legalized.
Under the new law, consumers aged 21 and over can buy marijuana from a licensed sellers in Illinois regardless of whether or not they have a medical marijuana card. However, citizens in this state can only possess 30 grams (approximately one ounce) of cannabis flower. The legal limit for any cannabis concentrate is 5 grams. When discussing cannabis infused products, such as edibles or tinctures, Illinois residents can have products with 500 milligrams of THC. Any visitors to the state of Illinois are allowed to possess only half of those amounts.
It is important to point out that it is illegal to use marijuana in any public place or inside of a motor vehicle. Medical marijuana cannot be used on school grounds or by anyone under the age of 21.
Drug crimes are some of the most serious charges you can face. If you have been arrested for any of the offenses listed above, call our firm today to set up a consultation appointment. Okabe & Haushalter has defended countless criminal cases ranging from drug crimes to DUI and manslaughter. A Chicago drug crime defense attorney from our team will aggressively and relentlessly defend your case until the best possible outcome has been achieved. Contact us today to learn more about how we can fight your drug crime charges.
