Unlawful Possession Of Drug Essay

There are a wide variety of legal consequences in the United States regarding alcohol and drugs. If you are under 21 and are caught purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol you will be charged with a misdemeanor. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you could be charged with a large fine or spend up to a year in jail. Other possible consequences include losing your license, a fine, community service or an informational essay like this. This would be on your record for the rest of your life and can affect getting into college and getting a job later on in life.

The legal consequences of drugs depend on the drug type, drug amount and intent. The more dangerous that a drug is, the more severe the punishment is. Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor and possession of heroin or cocaine is a felony. State guidelines determine what amount will result in a felony charge. The higher the amount of a controlled substance you have in your possession, the more severe the consequence is. Getting caught with a controlled substance with the intent to distribute or sell the drug is a felony charge. Intent is based on the amount of the drug or drug paraphernalia, such as scales, portion-sized bags, and large amounts of cash. …show more content…
Depending on the state you live in, you could potentially be charged with a felony and face a large fine or serious jail time. In rare cases, you can face charges for being in the company of a person in possession of illegal substances, regardless of whether you were aware of the drugs. First-time offenders occasionally are shown leniency and issued a lesser penalty; however, with each subsequent offense, penalties get harsher. Charges for possession can be tacked on to other charges. For example, if you’re pulled over for speeding and the police officer finds you in possession of an illegal substance, you will be charged with an additional