Kansas City Drug Lawyer
Drug crimes are among the most serious types of crime and yet also the most common. In 2018, drug crimes were the second most common type of federal offense in America and even the minimum sentences can be severe. While many lawmakers support more lenient sentencing for those charged with drug crimes—especially for drug users—those offenses still carry serious penalties.
That is why anyone who has been charged with a drug crime in Kansas City needs to contact the Law Office of Joel Rook. Joel Rook has been defending people charged with drug crimes for over ten years now. His extensive experience means that he can help to negotiate lower sentences for anyone charged with a drug offense in Kansas City. That means shorter jail sentences and lower fines. Getting charged with a drug offense can make a person feel completely hopeless; Joel Rook can give you the hope that you want and the fighting spirit that you need.
Common Drug Crimes in Kansas City
As with far too many cities and towns in America, opioid abuse is on the rise in Kansas. But even though the number of people abusing opioids continues to grow, methamphetamines are still the most common type of drug in Kansas City. The following drugs are what people in Kansas City are most likely to get charged with.
Illegal Opiates – Or perhaps that should be illegal opiate since heroin is typically the only drug in this category. And while heroin is bad enough by itself, it becomes much more dangerous and deadly when the powerful narcotic fentanyl is added to it.
Prescription Drugs – These can include opioids like medicines that contain oxycodone or hydrocodone. Sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs also get abused, these can include fairly common medications like Valium and Xanax. Stimulants used to treat ADHD and certain sleep disorders are also commonly abused, these can include drugs like Ritalin or Adderall.
Methamphetamines – Commonly called crystal meth, this drug is a stimulant and is particularly devastating. That is because meth abusers often go for days without food or sleep because meth is the only thing that their brains now crave.
Marijuana – The penalties for marijuana use in Kansas City have been significantly reduced but they have not been completely eliminated. So it is still possible to get fined for marijuana and the fines get larger on subsequent charges.
Classifications of Drug Crimes in Kansas City
The penalties for drug possession in Kansas City are among the toughest in the nation and repeat offenders receive more serious penalties than first-time offenders. The type of drug also affects the penalty. The following are the different classifications and penalties for drug possession in Kansas City:
- First time possession of any amount of marijuana is a Class A misdemeanor and warrants a fine of up to $2500 and up to twelve months in prison.
- A possession offense for drugs that are stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens is a Class A non person misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2500. A second offense warrants a fine of up to $100,000 and a prison sentence of up to three and a half years.
- The possession of opiates, narcotics, or stimulants—such as cocaine, heroin, or MDMA—is a Level 4 felony and is punishable with a fine of up to $100,000 and up to three and a half years prison time.
Drug Trafficking in Kansas City
Drug trafficking is defined as the selling, delivering, manufacturing, or distributing controlled substances. Those charged with drug trafficking will often face federal drug charges, which are far more serious than state-level drug charges. The level of punishment depends on the schedule under which the drug falls. Schedules are defined by the federal government and go from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most severe and 5 being the least. Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD, and marijuana, whereas Schedule 5 drugs include prescription drugs that contain high amounts of codeine.
For first time offenders, the penalty for trafficking Schedule 5 drugs is up to one year in prison and fines of up to $100,000. For Schedule 1 and 2 drugs, the penalty is up to twenty years in jail and a fine of as much as $1 million for first time offenders. In the case of second time offenders, the penalties are all typically doubled.
There is a different criterion for marijuana and it is based on the number of plants. Fewer than fifty plants results in a maximum of five years imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000. For fifty to ninety nine plants, the penalty is up to twenty years in prison and fines of up to $1 million. Between one hundred and one thousand plants means between five and forty years imprisonment and fines of up to $5 million. Over one thousand plants is ten years to life and up to $10 million in fines. These penalties are all for first offenders, they are usually doubled for second offenders.
How Can a Kansas City Drug Lawyer Help Me?
If you have been charged with drug crimes in Kansas City, then the help of an attorney is invaluable. Specifically, the help of Joel Rook is invaluable. He has over a decade of experience representing people who have faced all manner of drug charges. That means he knows the ins and outs of drug cases in Kansas City and can negotiate a lesser sentence with less severe penalties.
So make sure that he is your first point of contact if you are staring down the barrel of an impending drug conviction. Joel Rook will fight to get you a reasonable sentence, or even keep you out of prison altogether. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by contacting the Law Office of Joel Rook.