Drug Charges
Drug charges can carry some of the most severe penalties available in criminal law, including life imprisonment. For this reason it is very important to seek expert legal advice if you have been charged with a drug-related offence.
We have over 25 years experience representing people charged with drug offences. We service the North Shore, including North Sydney, Northern Beaches, and across Sydney.
We can help you defend drug charges and represent you in court.
Call us for help 24 hours on (02) 9955 2298, or 0400 44 64 24 (after hours emergency service) for expert legal advice and legal representation in Court. Your first telephone consultation is free.
Drug Charges can be broken down into 7 categories:
- Possession of Drugs
- Drug Use
- Drug Trafficking
- Supply of Drugs
- Manufacture of Drugs
- Cultivation of Drugs
- Drug Driving
Summary Offences
Summary offences are those offences at the less serious end of the spectrum. These offences are dealt with by local courts, and don’t usually lead to terms of imprisonment. Normally, possession of small quantities of prohibited substances and the self-administration of drugs are types of offences that are dealt with summarily.
Indictable Offences
Indictable offences are more serious in nature, and are generally dealt with in the District or Supreme Court. Offences such as the supply and manufacture of prohibited drugs are likely to be dealt with as indictable offences. They will often carry a term of imprisonment, especially where it is not a first offence.
Penalties
The penalties for many drug-related offences in NSW are dependent on the quantity of drug associated with the charge. There are six categories of quantity, set out in Schedule 1 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985. The actual quantities vary for each substance. These are (in order of size/severity):
- Discrete dosage unit (generally a single dose)
- Small quantity
- Traffickable quantity
- Indictable quantity
- Commercial quantity
- Large commercial quantity
What Can North Shore Criminal Law Do For You?
If you have been charged with a drug-related offence, it is very important to seek expert legal advice. Some drug-related offences carry very heavy penalties, with can have very dire consequences on your life, especially where terms of imprisonment are involved.
Gaining the advice of a lawyer with much experience in drug-related offences is very important. North Shore Criminal Law can help you to determine the best way to argue your case, helping you through the legal process. We can:
- Visit you in custody, ensuring your rights are protected, and advising you on the best way to proceed
- Advise you whether you should take part in an interview with Police, or assert your right to silence
- Advise you about any defences that may be available to fight your drug related charge
Call North Shore Criminal Law now on (02) 9955 2298 or our 24 hour Emergency on 0400 44 64 24.
