Drug Charges Lawyer in Culver City, CA. There are a wide variety of drug laws you can be charged with breaking in Culver City, CA. You could be accused of possessing them, selling them, or making them. These statutes regulate substances from methamphetamine 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 Culver City, CA's leading criminal defense attorney on your side. You need the Law Offices of David S. Chesley.
Our local Culver City drug charges lawyers will be by your side from day one. We will research the statute in detail, identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case, and fight for the best deal or other outcome in your case. To begin building your defense, contact our law offices at (800) 755-5174 or use our contact form right away.
Culver City, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer: Page Summary
On this page, you can read about what a Culver City, CA, drug charges attorney can do to defend you, categories of drug crime allegations in Culver City, the key factors you want your defense team to have, strategies we may use in your case, and the intersection between drug charges and DUIs in Culver City.
To focus on a specific topic, you can use the links in the following menu to navigate to a specific topic and learn more:
- What Your Culver City, CA, Drug Crimes Lawyer Will Do For You
- Popular Drug Types and Their Penalties
- Categories of Drug Crime Allegations in Culver City, CA
- How Drugs Can Affect DUI Charges in Culver City
- What to Look For in a Drug Charges Lawyer
- Strong Defense Strategies Our Attorneys Use in Drug Cases
- Culver City, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options
- How a Drug Conviction Can Impact Immigration Status
- Drug Allegation FAQs
- Need a Drug Charges Lawyer in Culver City, CA? Call the Law Offices of David S. Chesley Today
- All the Drug Charges Our Attorneys Defend Against
Get Help From a Culver City, CA, Drug Charges Lawyer IMMEDIATELY
If you've been accused of a drug crime in Culver City, CA, it's a big deal, no matter what. Two people who committed similar acts can face very different charges, meaning you can always face felony consequences.
The first reason you should contact a drug charges lawyer immediately is to explain the charges. A simple possession case shouldn't be treated the same as a drug manufacturing case, and your drug defense attorney needs to know how to fight your particular charges.
The second reason to call a local Culver City, CA, drug charges lawyer right away is to stop yourself from making a mistake. After a police interview without proper legal representation, the charges could be elevated and the state's case strengthened. Your lawyer can stop you from experiencing self-incrimination.
On top of that, your drug charges lawyer will open doors for new strategies through plea negotiations. Early intervention gives you a head start against the state, and we can even move to dismiss charges if we can act before the state builds a compelling case.
Drug Types and Legal Context in Culver City, CA:
When picking a Culver City, CA, drug charges lawyer, you should pick somone who can defend charges related to the specific kind of drug in the allegations. In the following section, we've outlined some of the most common substances that are the center of illegal drug cases in the state.
| Drug Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Prescription Drugs | These include substances like Xanax or Adderall, which aren't supposed to be taken without a doctor's authorization. |
| Ecstacy | Also known as MDMA, Molly, and E. Use can cause both mood and psychedelic effects. |
| Cocaine | A highly addictive drug which can cause intense effects Long term use can dampen the brain's reward pathway. |
| Methamphetamine | Synthetic stimulant originally used to improve focus, but with serious side effects. |
| Opioids | A category of addictive painkillers. These include morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. |
| Heroin | A highly refined type of opioid. 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 the type of drug, how much there was, your criminal record, and the type of charge. For some typical accusations:
- 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 rarely treated as misdemeanors. They're often 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.
There's no simple method to tell what kind of sentence you're facing based on your charges. Our drug defense attorneys can help — call our office for a free case review and we'll help you get an idea of what you're up against.
Marijuana in Culver City, CA
Marijuana Description: Marijuana is a plant which is popularly smoked to get high. While the state used to have laws against its use, in 2016 the state passed Proposition 64, allowing it in recreational circumstances.
Since it has been legalized for recreational use, marijuana (AKA cannabis) allegations in Culver City, CA, typically often revolve around who was using it and whether that person was exceeding legal limits. 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:
- Adults over the age of 21 can carry 28.5 grams of marijuana on their person
- In most cases, adults over 21 can grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use
- Federal law still makes marijuana usage illegal.
How Your Culver City, 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 show off the proper regulatory procedures which you adhered to.
Drug Charge Categories in Culver City, CA
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley defends a wide variety of drug charges in Culver City, CA. We are prepared to fight against accusations including possession, sale, and special enhancements. Read the sections below to learn more about the different categories of charges and how our criminal defense attorneys can help.
Drug Possession/Use Charges
Drug possession charges are some of the most basic in Culver City, CA. These can be charged for any illegal substance and these charges can apply regardless of where the drugs were physically at, as long as you controlled them.
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
- Hard Drug Possession
Your Culver City, CA, drug charges lawyer fight for illegally obtained evidence to be thrown out, and can protect your freedom through diversionary programs, if applicable.
Relevant statutes: Simple possession of most hard drugs falls under Health and Safety Code 11350, while possession of methamphetamine specifically falls under 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
Accusations of drug production, transportation, and distribution take on the other side of a drug deal: The alleged 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
A conviction of one of these charges typically means a much longer prison sentence than for simple possession. A drug crimes defense lawyer can help you negotiate a plea to a less serious offense.
Relevant statutes: The two main possession for sale charges you will see in Culver City, CA, are HS 11351 (for most substances) and HS 11378 (specifically for methamphetamine). 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). Sentences for these charges can be even more severe — 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 may seem very different, but all have one thing in common: They don't exist in a vacuum. Before you can be charged with an enhancement, you first need to face a different criminal charge.
It's even more important to hire an experienced Culver City, 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 isn't a 'category' in the same way that the above types of charges are. The distinction is that you're fighting against the federal government instead of the local Culver City prosecutor.
These can include anything from production to transportation 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. Sentences are often more severe, up to and including life imprisonment and substantial fines.
If you're accused of a drug crime in federal court, you're up against a lot. And you need a a leading criminal defense lawyer who's prepared to battle the federal prosecutor. Our team of attorneys will protect your rights, research applicable laws, challenge evidence, and do whatever we can to secure a positive outcome for you.
DUIs and Drug Charges Defense in Culver City, CA
Drug cases often intersect with another type of case in Culver City, CA: DUIs. Drug DUI defense cases can include a wide range of circumstances, including everything from driving while high on marijuana to driving after taking certain medications. One aspect that sets these cases apart is that you can be arrested if there is any amount of THC in your system while driving (as opposed to alcoholwhich has a legal limit).
When up against this type of charge, you need more than a drug charges lawyer. You also need a leading Culver City, CA, DUI defense lawyer who argue for you both in criminal court and at the DMV hearing. Contact a lawyer right away — for most DUI cases, if you wait longer than ten days to request a hearing, you lose your chance.
What to Look For in a Drug Charges Lawyer
If you're looking for a drug charges lawyer in Culver City, CA, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which one to represent you. Your life may depend on it, after all.
Here are the top factors you want to find in your drug crimes defense attorney:
- Vast Experience fighting against these charges
- Intimate Knowledge of how the state builds its case against you
- Existing Relationships at the courts in your jurisdiction
- A Reputation of Delivering Success when fighting drug charges for clients
- Availability Anytime in case an emergency occurs and you need help
At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, we embody each of these qualities. We have over five decades of combined courtroom experience, including as both prosecutors and defense attorneys. We offer legal services throughout California. And we have a history of delivering positive outcomes for Californians.
We don't make false promises about your case, and you can get a hold of us 24/7 if you have any questions or concerns.
Powerful Drug Crime Accusation Defenses
Whatever law you're accused of breaking, you have your own unique story to tell. The details are different for every criminal case in Culver City, CA, and you should have a customized defense strategy to match.
While we use some common base strategies, we'll build your defense out to fit your unique circumstances. Below are some powerful strategies your drug charges lawyer will consider:
- Illegal Search and Seizure: If the police searched you, your vehicle, or your dwelling without either probable cause or a warrant, that evidence can be thrown out.
- 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.
- Didn't Belong to You: If the substance in question was, in fact, illegal, but belonged to another person, you shouldn't face possession charges.
- Entrapment: In some cases, if an undercover police officer coerced you into violating the law, you may be exempt from a conviction.
- Prescription: Some substances are illegal to possess without a valid prescription, but if you have one, that can excuse you from these charges.
- Plea Negotiations: Not every case can result in a "not guilty" verdict, but there are occasions where a plea deal can lessen the impact of a conviction.
If you're facing drug crime charges in Culver City, CA, and need help, reach out to the Law Offices of David S. Chesley today.
Culver City, CA, Drug Charge Diversion Options:
Culver City has diversion and treatment options available, which can be an excellent option if you are eligible. Ask your Culver City, CA, drug charges lawyer what you can do to increase your chances of entering one of these programs.
To qualify, defendants must fit certain criteria. Here are a couple of programs that might apply in your case:
PC 1000 Drug Diversion
California PC 1000 Deferred Entry of Judgment is is an option that can give you a way to stay out of prison without going through a trial. It generally involves 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 protects you from 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 takes a different approach than a typical diversion program.
Under the current law, 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. While this doesn't automatically keep people out of jail, it creates a choice: complete court-mandated treatment, and the underlying drug charge case is dropped (the arrest record will remain, but is sealed); fail or refuse treatment, and you face the felony charge, with a prison sentence of up to three years. 2024's Proposition 36 also heightened potential drug crime sentences, depending on the quantity and type of substance, and added fentanyl to the list of drugs that trigger firearm-related enhancements.
Your Culver City, CA, drug charges lawyer is here to help you understand the charges, help you decide what route to take, and come up with a strategy that maximizes your chances of a positive outcome.
How a Drug Conviction in Culver City, CA, Affects Immigration Status
For immigrants in Culver City, CA, you're facing even more serious consequences than a U.S. citizen — you need a law firm who can help you fight the criminal charges and defend you in immigration court, if necessary.
Under federal immigration law, a conviction for almost any controlled substance offense can make a non-citizen deportable, with one specific exception: a single offense involving possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana for personal use. This can impact lawful permanent residents ("green card" holders) as well as visa holders, and it can be a factor independent of whether or not the conviction includes a jail sentence.
Important factors to be aware of:
- Simple possession for personal use (other than certain rare substances) is normally enough to qualify for removal, 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 significantly more serious. They are often considered 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 tell you about these immigration consequences before you make a plea. Our firm works hard to find outcomes — such as a plea deal to another, non-drug charge, or a disposition that avoids specific "aggravated felony" language — which minimizes your chances of being deported.
Because immigration consequences are triggered by conviction, not just sentence, it's important to avoid mistakes from the very start of your case. If you are a non-citizen fighting a drug crime allegation, tell your attorney immediately — this materially changes how your case should be defended.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I'm not found guilty, do drug charges appear on a background check?
Even if there isn't a criminal conviction, a background check can still show your arrest. If your case is resolved through PC 1000 or a completed Prop 36 treatment program, you may be able to have the arrest sealed or the record cleared — ask your attorney what applies to your specific case.
If the police catch me with drugs in my possession, do I have to answer their questions?
No. The Fifth Amendment gives you the right to remain silent during questioning. Be respectful to the police, but do not provide any information besides your identity, and ask for an attorney right away — if you say the wrong thing, you could end up facing harsher charges.
Can a drug conviction be expunged in Culver City, CA?
The answer depends on the specific charge and your sentence. Penal Code 1203.4 allows for expungement in many cases after completing probation, though this can be affected based on the charge you were convicted of, and any previous convictions. The conviction can still potentially be used as grounds for deportation, though, which is why non-citizens need support from a lawyer who can handle both criminal and immigration defense.
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. If you have previous drug-charge convictions on your record, you're more likely to be eligible for Proposition 36 (2024): This would be a felony charge, but offers a court-supervised treatment program to have the case dismissed. Which one applies depends on your charge and criminal history.
Does Culver City, CA, prosecute drug possession charges as felonies?
For most first-time possession cases in Culver City, 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 Culver City, CA
This isn't a time to settle for "good enough." Your future matters, and it depends on working with the right law firm. We are ready to take your case.
The Culver City, CA, drug charges lawyers at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley takes advantage of every opportunity we find to deliver positive results for clients. We defend all kinds of major criminal charges, including drug crime allegations. We explore every avenue to find the right path forward for our clients.
We also aid with the following legal services in Culver City, CA:
- Domestic Violence Lawyer
- Sex Crimes Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Theft Lawyer
- Violent Crimes Lawyer
- DUI Lawyer
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
Contact your Culver City drug crimes defense attorney today at (800) 755-5174 or tell us about your case online for a free case evaluation.
Every Drug Charge Our Lawyers Defend Against:
- 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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