Fight Your Charges with a Marijuana Defense Lawyer
In Texas, possession of marijuana can be a serious crime and may result in significant jail time with far-reaching, often unforeseen consequences. A drug conviction can interfere with current or future employment, student loans, and even your apartment lease. If you have been arrested for possession, marijuana defense lawyer Jason Trumpler in Austin, TX, can help you fight this charge, so that you can maintain a clean record.
Marijuana Laws in Texas
Unlike many other states in the U.S., Texas still regards all forms of marijuana as illegal. In the context of Texas law, possession refers to an individual who has marijuana in his "care, custody, control, or management." As such, whether or not the substance belongs to you, you can still be held accountable if police find it in your car or residence. For legal purposes, marijuana includes any type or part of a cannabis plant, including leaves and seeds.
Similar to other drug charges in Texas, the penalty for possession is determined by the amount of marijuana found in your car, home, or on your person.
| Possession | Charge | Maximum Penalty |
| Up to 2 ounces | Class B Misdemeanor | 180 days in jail, $2,000 fine |
| 2 - 4 ounces | Class A Misdemeanor | 1 year in jail, $4,000 fine |
| 4 ounces - 5 pounds | State Jail Felony | 2 years in jail, $10,000 fine |
| 5 - 50 pounds | Third Degree Felony | 10 years in prison, $10,000 fine |
| 50 - 2,000 pounds | Second Degree Felony | 20 years in prison, $10,000 fine |
| More than 2,000 pounds | First Degree Felony | Life in prison, $50,000 fine |
The sale of marijuana can also be considered a felony. The severity of this penalty coincides with the quantity distributed. Selling to minors is a more serious crime and can result in a second degree felony and a minimum two year prison sentence.
Additional Consequences of Conviction
In addition to potential jail time and fines, you can face serious, long-lasting repercussions if convicted for possession of any amount of marijuana. If you are 21 years of age or older, your driver's license can be automatically suspended for six months upon conviction. For those under 21 years of age at the time of arrest, this suspension can increase to a full year.
A conviction can interfere with current or future employment, student loans, and even your apartment lease.
A conviction on your record can be easily found by a potential employer or financing company. Many employers consider any type of drug conviction to be an automatic disqualification for employment. A criminal record can also prevent you from receiving student loans or maintaining current financial aid. These blemishes on your record can even impact an apartment lease. To avoid these consequences, it is important to fight possession charges with a proven, experienced criminal lawyer to help keep your record clean.
Trumpler Law Can Help
Jason Trumpler provides aggressive defense representation throughout central Texas. He has handled thousands of drug cases and spent countless hours in the courtroom earning many substantial court victories. In addition, he has worked as a narcotics prosecutor and trained law enforcement officers, so he understands the tactics often used against defendants. These diverse experiences contribute to Mr. Trumpler's unique prospective, which he can use to mount the best possible defense for his clients. For a first offense misdemeanor marijuana charge, we can often work out a deal to get charges dismissed in exchange for drug treatment. For more serious charges, we pursue every potential avenue with the goal of dismissal or reduced penalties.
Fight Your Charges Today
For help with your marijuana case, contact Trumpler Law online or call us at (512) 457-5200. We answer calls 24 hours per day, and we can provide help with bail and release.
