At the David W. Martin Law Group, our Fort Mill possession of marijuana and cocaine attorneys know that any drug charge can change our clients’ lives from the moment they are arrested.
Our York County criminal defense lawyers also know that if you have a previous drug-related conviction, you may be facing severe legal penalties that are difficult to overcome without a skilled attorney by your side.
We can help.
If you have been arrested and charged with any level of marijuana or cocaine drug crime, contact our experienced attorneys in South Carolina to schedule a consultation to learn about your legal options today.
Is Marijuana Illegal in South Carolina?
While many states have legalized — or decriminalized — marijuana, it is still illegal in South Carolina, and our laws are still quite strict when it comes to their punishments.
Our Fort Mill residents may be arrested on simple possession charges when found with up to 28 grams of marijuana, or simply by possessing drug paraphernalia — with or without marijuana inside.
An arrest for possession of marijuana in South Carolina may result in a fine of up to $200 and/or up to 30 days in jail.
When Can Fort Mill Residents Be Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana in South Carolina?
When our Fort Mill residents are in possession of more than 28 grams, but less than ten pounds of marijuana, they may face possession of marijuana with intent to distribute charges, which carries much stiffer penalties than possession alone.
The penalties for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in South Carolina include:
First Offense
- Up to five years jail time, and/or fines up to $5,000
Second Offense
- Up to ten years jail time, and/or fines up to $10,000
Third Offense
- Five to 20 years jail time, and/or fines up to $20,000
Law enforcement officials will make the assessment that an individual was intending to distribute marijuana when the drug is divided into smaller quantities that can be sold by a certain weight, or when they catch the alleged distributor with the tools necessary to divide the drug, which may include scales or individual bags.
If you are facing these difficult charges, contact our experienced Fort Mill possession of marijuana with intent to distribute attorneys to review your charges, the circumstances of your arrest, and the evidence that is being used against you, so we can customize your defense strategy to pursue the best outcome for your unique case.
What is Considered Marijuana Trafficking in Fort Mill, South Carolina?
Marijuana trafficking charges in South Carolina are based solely on the amount — or weight — of the drug found in the person’s possession, no matter the individual’s intentions.
If you have been arrested for possession of 10-99 pounds of marijuana, you may face mandatory prison time that expands for repeat offenders.
- First Offense: One and up to five years jail time, and fines up to $10,000
- Second Offense: Five and up to 20 years jail time, and fines up to $15,000
- Third Offense 25 years jail time, and fines up to $25,000
If you have been arrested for possession of over 99 pounds of marijuana — even as a first-time offender — you will be charged with a felony and face a mandatory prison sentence of:
- 25 years, and a fine of $25,000 for 100 – 1,999 pounds
- 25 years, and a fine of $50,000 for 2,000 – 9,999 pounds
- 25 – 30 years, and a fine of $200,000 for 10,000 pounds or more
South Carolina marijuana trafficking charges are not something you will want to face on your own, as the solicitor’s office will work overtime to ensure you are serving the mandatory sentence for the weight you were charged with.
Contact our skilled drug trafficking lawyers in Fort Mill today to learn more about our criminal defense strategies that may help you get your life back.
Are There Mandatory Jail Sentences for Possession of Cocaine in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, possession of cocaine charges includes penalties for jail time, but they are not automatically mandatory like cocaine trafficking charges.
That is why it is important to partner with a skilled drug possession of cocaine attorney in Fort Mill to ensure your rights are protected, and that you are pursuing the best outcome for your unique circumstances starting with your initial court hearing.
The penalties of possession of up to one gram of cocaine in South Carolina include:
- First Offense: Up to three years in jail, and/or a fine of up to $5,000
- Second Offense: Up to five years in jail, and/or a fine of up to $7,500
- Third or Subsequent Offense: Up to 10 years in jail, and/or a fine of up to $12,500
When Does Possession of Cocaine Become a Felony in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, possession of more than one gram of cocaine will be charged as a felony and upgraded to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
The penalties also increase and include:
- First Offense: Up to 15 years of jail time, and/or fines up to $25,000
- Second Offense: Five to 30 years jail time, and/or fines up to $50,000
- Third or Subsequent Offense: Mandatory ten years, and up to 30 years jail time, and/or fines up to $50,000
Cocaine trafficking is also a felony and is charged as such when an individual is arrested in possession of ten grams or more of cocaine.
If you are facing cocaine trafficking charges in South Carolina, the penalties include mandatory jail time.
Those sentences include:
- First Offense: Mandatory sentence of three years, and up to ten years jail time, and a fine of $25,000
- Second Offense: Mandatory sentence of five years, and up to 30 years jail time, and a fine of $50,000
- Third or Subsequent Offense: Mandatory sentence of 25 years, and up to 30 years jail time, and a fine of $50,000
Contact Our Serious Marijuana & Cocaine Drug Crimes Lawyers in Fort Mill Today for a consultation
If you have been charged with a drug crime in South Carolina, contact our experienced criminal defense attorneys in Fort Mill at the David W. Martin Law Group today by calling (803) 548-2468 to review your case, so we can provide a straightforward approach to designing a defense that pursues the best results for your unique charges.
