Drug Charges Lawyer in Canoga Park, CA. Whatever drug accusations you're facing in Canoga Park, CA, it's not an easy thing to handle. Everything from manufacturing to simple possession can send you to jail. These laws cover substances from cannabis to heroin. But they all share one thing in common: Major legal consequences.
You need someone who can guide you to a positive outcome. You need Canoga Park, CA's premier criminal defense legal team on your side. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Our local Canoga Park drug charges lawyers are ready for your case today. We will explore possible defenses, explain your best options, and fight for the best deal or other outcome in your case. To begin building your defense, contact our representatives at (800) 755-5174 or send us a note online today.
Canoga Park, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer: Page Summary
On this page, you can learn about how a Canoga Park, CA, drug defense attorney will protect your rights, categories of drug crime allegations in Canoga Park, the qualities your attorney should have, effective defense tactics against all sorts of charges, and the intersection between drug charges and DUIs in Canoga Park.
If you want to read about a specific topic, you can use the links below to jump ahead and learn more:
- Top Reasons to Work With a Drug Crimes Defense Attorney in Canoga Park, CA
- Common Drug Types and Possible Penalties
- Different Types of Drug Crime Allegations in Canoga Park, CA
- DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Canoga Park, CA
- Top Drug Defense Attorney Qualities
- Possible Defenses That We Use in Drug Cases
- Avenues to Divert Your Drug Charges
- Impact of Drug Crime Convictions on Non-U.S. Citizens
- Drug Charge FAQs
- Contact Your Canoga Park, CA, Drug Charges Attorney Now
- Every Drug Charge Our Team Will Defend Against
Don't Waste Time: Contact a Canoga Park, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer RIGHT AWAY
There's no such thing as a "minor" drug charge in Canoga Park, CA. The same action can be interpreted by the state in multiple ways, meaning you can always face an extended stay in jail.
The first reason you need a drug charges lawyer as soon as possible is to help you interpret the law. A simple possession case shouldn't be treated the same as a possession-for-sale case, and your defense attorney should understand how to defend each.
The second reason to contact a local Canoga Park, CA, drug charges lawyer early in the defense process is to stop yourself from making a mistake. When you say the wrong thing to a state representative, you could see simple possession allegations elevated to possession-for-sale accusations. Your lawyer can help you talk to police the right way, instead of incriminating yourself.
Finally, your drug charges lawyer will leverage local court relationships to explore different defense avenues. Early intervention prevents the state from getting a lead on you, and we can even move to dismiss charges if we can act before the state builds a compelling case.
Common Drug Types in Canoga Park, CA, Legal Cases:
When picking a Canoga Park, CA, drug charges lawyer, you should pick somone who knows how the prosecution treats different drug types. In the following section, you can read about what types of drugs we most frequently defend charges for in Canoga Park, CA.
| Drug Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Prescription Drugs | Charges often revolve around having a technically legal drug without permission, or selling it to someone you aren't supposed to. |
| Ecstacy | A man-made psychoactive drug. This affects the brain's ability to process serotonin. |
| Cocaine | A highly addictive drug derived from a South American plant Long term use can dampen the brain's reward pathway. |
| Methamphetamine | A man-made drug that temporarily boosts energy, while harming the body. |
| Opioids | A class of drugs, including both natural and synthetic types. These include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. |
| Heroin | An extremely dangerous drug made by processing morphine. Courts and prosecutors often treat heroin charges harshly. |
| Fentanyl | An extremely dangerous type of opioid — roughly 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the DEA. |
Sentences vary significantly based on substance, how much there was, prior record, and the accusation you're facing. As an overview:
- Most of the time, if you're only accused of possession and not distributing a drug, the charge will only be a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Different prosecutors may treat some substances in a harsher manner, though.
- Possession for sale, sale, transport, or manufacturing are typically charged as felonies, and the sentence can change based on the specific drug and amount involved.
- Fentanyl is treated extra seriously: Proposition 36 (2024) created a list of drugs, including fentanyl, which can trigger felony enhancement if possessed along with a loaded firearm.
- Federal charges carry their own, generally harsher, sentencing structure.
Because the numbers shift based on the specific facts of a case, the exact exposure you're facing should be evaluated by an attorney who can review your charge sheet and criminal history — call us for a free case evaluation and we'll walk you through what you're actually facing.
Marijuana in Canoga Park, CA
Marijuana Description: Marijuana is a mind-altering substance derived from a plant leaf. Smoking marijuana used to be illegal in California, but in 2016 the state passed Proposition 64, legalizing its recreational use.
Since California no longer criminalizes using it, marijuana (AKA cannabis) cases in Canoga Park, CA, most often have more to do with how it was used, rather than just that it was used. As an example, it's legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for recreational use, but growing a seventh is a crime.
Marijuana Legal Overview:
- Legal in limited quantities for adults 21 and older
- Typically, adults over 21 can grow up to six marijuana plants
- Still illegal to use or possess under federal law.
How Your Canoga Park, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Can Help: If you've been accused of marijuana-related charges, your lawyer are ready for your case. For example, we can argue that you were permitted to have cannabis, show that you did not violate any regulations, and/or make the case that no laws were violated in the handling of the plant.
Different Types of Drug Charges in Canoga Park, CA
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends a wide variety of drug charges in Canoga Park, CA. Whatever charges you are facing, we're ready to defend your innocence. In the sections below, you can learn about different categories of drug crimes and what a lawyer can do to assist you.
Drug Possession/Use Charges
The most common drug charges in Canoga Park, CA, are often those related to possession. All illegal chemicals can fall under this umbrella, and these charges can apply in any circumstance where you allegedly owned the illegal drugs, even if you didn't have them physically with you at the time.
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Hard Drug Possession
Your Canoga Park, CA, drug charges lawyer fight for illegally obtained evidence to be thrown out, and can advocate for diversionary programs to keep you out of jail.
Relevant statutes: Simple possession of most hard drugs falls under Health and Safety Code 11350, while possession of methamphetamine is instead covered by HS 11377. In most cases, the prosecution will choose to treat these as misdemeanors, limiting the potential sentence to one year in jail.
Drug Production/Transport/Distribution Charges
While drug possession and use charges target the buyer, drug production, transportation, and distribution charges target the seller.
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use
- Drug Trafficking
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Drug Possession for Sale
These charges are almost always treated more harshly than possession/use charges. A positive outcome in these cases is often taking a plea deal for a lesser charge. Your drug crimes defense attorney can help you negotiate a favorable deal.
Relevant statutes: HS 11351 covers standard drug dealing charges, formally known as "possession for sale." The exception is methamphetamine, which is covered by HS 11378. For these felony charges, each is punishable by two, three, or four years in state prison and fines up to $20,000. Sale and transportation for sale charges are divided in a similar way: HS 11352 (most substances) vs. HS 11379 (methamphetamine). These charges carry longer exposure — up to nine years if the transportation crosses non-contiguous counties. A drug charges laywer who can negotiate your charges down is essential, if you want to become eligible for common diversion programs like PC 1000 or Proposition 36.
Drug Charge Enhancements
California's drug charge enhancement laws can be very different from each other, but they share one common attribute: They don't stand on their own. In order to be charged with an enhancement, there also needs to be an underlying base charge.
It's even more important to hire an experienced Canoga Park, CA, drug crimes lawyer to defend you in these cases, so that they can fight both the base charge and the enhancement.
Federal Drug Charges
A federal drug charge can come from any category of alleged drug offense. The distinction is that the U.S. government is prosecuting you, not just the Canoga Park district attorney.
These can include anything from manufacturing to taking part in a drug conspiracy, but to get the attention of the federal government, it typically will involve large quantities and/or crossing state lines. If you're accused of this, you're up against truly severe penalties, such as a life sentence and substantial fines.
If you're accused of a drug crime in federal court, you're up against a lot. And you need a an experienced criminal defense lawyer with the resources to battle the United States government. Our firm will protect your rights, develop a strong defense strategy, challenge evidence, and make every effort to secure a positive result for your case.
DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Canoga Park, CA
Drug cases often intersect with another type of case in Canoga Park, CA: DUIs. Drug DUI defense cases can include a wide range of situations, including everything from driving while high on marijuana to driving after taking certain medications. Legal regulations often make these charges more serious than typical DUIs. For example, you can be arrested if there is any amount of THC in your system while driving (as opposed to alcoholwhich only has a "zero tolerance" law people who are underage).
When facing drug DUI charges, you need more than a drug charges lawyer. You also need an expert Canoga Park, CA, DUI defense lawyer who will fight your case both in criminal court and at the DMV hearing. But you need to act fast — in most cases, you need to request a hearing within ten days of your arrest.
Top Canoga Park, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer Qualitites
When you are considering your options for a drug charges lawyer in Canoga Park, CA, it can be a challenge trying to decide the right person to represent you. With so much at stake, you don't want to make the wrong choice.
Here are the top factors you want to see in your drug crimes defense attorney:
- Extensive Experience fighting against these charges
- Intimate Knowledge of how the state builds its case against you
- Existing Relationships with prosecutors and judges in your local county
- A Track Record of Success versus the prosecution in drug cases
- Availability Anytime so that you can get help when you need it most
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we embody each of these qualities. We have over 50 years of combined legal experience, including working for the district attorney's office. We have a wide reach with relationships across the state of California. And we have a history of delivering positive outcomes for our clients.
We will always be honest with you about the state of your case, and you can get a hold of us 24/7 if something new develops.
Ways Our Lawyers Defend Against Drug Charges
Your charges might be the same as someone else's, but your case is unique. The details are different for every criminal case in Canoga Park, CA, and you should have a unique defense plan to protect you.
While we use some common base strategies, we'll build your defense out to fit your unique circumstances. Here are some of the possible strategies your drug charges lawyer will consider:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: By getting evidence thrown out, the case against you can be weakened.
- Lack of Intent: If you did hold or transport illegal drugs, but weren't aware of it, you shouldn't be found guilty because you didn't mean to break the law.
- Not Your Drugs: You can argue this if you were present in an area while drugs were there, but they were not yours and you weren't using them.
- Entrapment: In some cases, if an undercover police officer coerced you into breaking a drug law, you may be exempt from a conviction.
- Prescription: This isn't an option for every offense and type of drug, but some accusations can be alleviated if you were legally prescribed the substance.
- Plea Negotiations: Plea negotiations not only reduce the level of charges you're facing, but can also open up diversion avenues.
If you need a drug crimes defense attorney in Canoga Park, CA, contact an attorney at our offices today.
Canoga Park, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options:
Canoga Park has diversion and treatment options available — be sure to ask your Canoga Park, CA, drug charges lawyer about whether or not they apply to your case. To qualify, defendants must fit certain criteria. These are some of the :
PC 1000 Drug Diversion
California PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment is a very desirable outcome for many people facing drug charges. If you participate in this, you can expect to participate in drug education classes, requirements to stay sober, and regular drug testing. The advantage of PC 1000 is that you don't end up with a conviction on your record — after completing the program, the case against you is dismissed. This prevents you from going through many of a conviction's collateral consequences.
Proposition 36 (2024)
Proposition 36 is another diversion program, designed to help people accused of repeat drug offenses. It was passed in 2024, and is distinct from a previous version of Proposition 36 passed in 2000. It works differently than a traditional diversion program.
Under the 2024 version, individuals with two or more prior drug convictions can now be charged with a "treatment-mandated felony" for offenses that might otherwise have been charged as misdemeanors. Rather than an automatic alternative to jail, this creates a choice: complete court-mandated treatment, and the underlying drug charge case is dropped (the arrest record will remain, but is sealed); you can opt to refuse treatment, but you'll be up against the underlying felony charge, including up to three years in custody. The law also heightened potential drug crime sentences, depending on the quantity and type of substance, and updated the list of drugs that trigger firearm-related enhancements to include fentanyl.
Your Canoga Park, CA, drug charges lawyer is here to help you understand the charges, help you decide what route to take, and stand by your side no matter which route you take.
Drug Convictions' Impact on Immigration Status
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you might have to defend yourself against removal as well as criminal charges — and this is an area where our firm's dual criminal defense and immigration practice gives clients a real advantage.
The federal government can initiate removal proceedings for most drug convictions, with one narrow exception: marijuana charges for no more than 30 grams of the substance, and only intended it for person use, not sale. This can affect lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders) as well as visa holders, and it applies regardless of whether the state court sentence includes any jail time.
A few key distinctions matter a great deal:
- Simple possession for personal use (other than certain rare substances) is ordinarilly grounds for deportation, but is not automatically classified as an "aggravated felony" — meaning that you likely won't lose access to certain modes of immigration relief.
- Possession for sale, sale, or trafficking convictions are not treated as lightly. They are typically classified as aggravated felonies, which can trigger mandatory deportation and create barriers to appeals efforts.
- How a charge is pleaded matters enormously. Under Padilla v. Kentucky, defense counsel is supposed to advise a client of these immigration consequences before a plea is entered. An attorney who understands both sides can negotiate a resolution — such as a plea to a non-drug offense, or a disposition that doesn't include specific "aggravated felony" language — which minimizes your chances of being deported.
Because the conviction, regardless of the sentence, has such a big immigration impact, decisions made early in a criminal case can matter as much as, or more than, the eventual sentence itself. If you are an immigrant facing any drug charge, tell your attorney immediately — this plays a major role in your case, and your lawyer should help you on both fronts.
Drug Charge Frequently Asked Questions
If my drug charges are dismissed, can anyone still see them?
An arrest can appear on some background checks even without a conviction. If you were able to take advantage of a diversion program like PC 1000 or Proposition 36, you may be able to have the arrest sealed or the record cleared — an attorney can help you explore these options.
Do I have to talk to police if I'm caught with drugs?
No. You are not required to answer any self-incriminating questions during an interrogation. Be respectful to the police, but do not provide any information besides your identity, and request counsel right away — anything you say can be used to elevate a simple possession charge to a possession-for-sale charge.
Can a drug conviction be expunged in Canoga Park, CA?
Many drug convictions can be expunged under Penal Code 1203.4 once probation is successfully completed, though eligibility depends on the specific charge and your record. An expungement does not erase a conviction for federal immigration purposes, which is why non-citizens need immigration-aware counsel handling both the criminal case and any later cleanup.
What's the difference between PC 1000 and Proposition 36 diversion?
PC 1000 is available for qualifying first-time or low-level possession offenses and leads to dismissal after completing education and testing requirements. The 2024 version of Proposition 36 applies to repeat offenders facing a treatment-mandated felony and requires completing a court-supervised treatment program to avoid the felony consequences. To learn more about how to explore these paths, speak to an attorney today.
If I don't have a record, will my drug possession charge be a felony in Canoga Park, CA?
For most first-time possession cases in Canoga Park, CA, you'll only face a misdemeanor charge. Distribution, manufacturing, or trafficking charges are different, though: These are normally treated as felonies, even for a first-time offender.
Get Help Now: Call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley for a Drug Charges Lawyer in Canoga Park, CA
You need help from experts in defending against drug charges Your freedom is important, and it depends on working with the right attorney. We are ready to take your case.
The Canoga Park, CA, drug charges lawyers at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley are known for delivering positive outcomes for clients. We have relationships in courts across California. We explore every avenue to find the right path forward for our clients.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley also offers the following legal services in Canoga Park, CA:
- Domestic Violence Lawyer
- Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Theft Lawyer
- Violent Crimes Lawyer
- DUI Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Speak to your Canoga Park drug charges defense lawyer today at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online to schedule a no-strings review of your charges.
Drug Charges Our Lawyers Fight in Canoga Park, CA:
- Bringing Drugs into a Jail or Prison
- Cocaine
- Cultivation of Marijuana
- Drug Crimes with Firearm Enhancements
- Drug Diversion Programs
- Drug-Free School Zone Violations
- Drug Possession for Sale
- Drug Trafficking
- Ecstasy
- Federal Drug Charges
- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl-Specific Enhancements
- Hard Drug Possession
- Heroin
- Illegal Search and Seizure Defense in Drug Cases
- Maintaining a Place for Drug Sales/Use (HS 11366)
- Manufacturing or Producing Controlled Substances
- Marijuana
- Marijuana Charges
- Methamphetamine
- Opioids
- PC 1000 Drug Diversion
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Prescription Drugs
- Proposition 36
- Sale of Controlled Substance
- Transportation of a Controlled Substance
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance (HS 11350)
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