If you have been arrested or are under investigation for a drug crime, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who can dissect your case, assess the prosecutor's weak spots and determine the best possible way to attack them.  With over 35 years of criminal defense experience, the Robert R. Cooper Law Firm, P.C., an Albuquerque criminal defense firm, is in the unique position to discover weaknesses that could lead to the suppression of evidence in your case or even to the dismissal of the charges.

 

Drug Crimes in New Mexico include drug use, possession, manufacturing, trafficking and distribution.  The specific charges in any particular case depend upon the circumstances and the evidence obtained and may be classified as misdemeanors, felonies or a combination of the two.  Additionally, there is always a chance that the charges may be escalated to the more serious federal level. New Mexico's proximity to the Mexican border drives law enforcement, at both the state and federal levels, to come down exceptionally hard on individuals suspected of drug crimes. Whether an individual is charged with a misdemeanor or felony, in state or federal court, drug charges and their accompanying penalties have the potential to be devastating; including lengthy prison sentences and thousands of dollars in fines. The charges are serious and the stakes are high, you need an Albuquerque Criminal Defense Attorney who is professional, compassionate and, above all, experienced in both state and federal court defending drug crimes.  

 

The State of New Mexico classifies drugs in the same manner as they are classified under federal law, according to the Controlled Substances Act.  Drugs, and even certain chemicals used to make drugs, are classified into five distinct categories or "schedules" weighing the drug's acceptable medical use against the drug's potential for abuse or dependency. For example, Schedule I drugs are considered the most dangerous class of drugs with a high potential for abuse and potentially severe psychological and/or physical dependence.  For information on drug scheduling specifics, please click here.

 

It is worth noting that a substance need not be listed as a controlled substance to be treated as a Schedule I or Schedule II substance for criminal prosecution.  A provision in the Controlled Substances Act allows for substances which are "intended for human consumption, are not an approved medication in the United States and are 'structurally or pharmacologically substantially similar to or are represented as being similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II substance' " to be prosectuted in the same manner.

 

If you've been charged with a drug crime in New Mexico, it is imperative that you contact Albuquerque Criminal Defense Attorney, Robert R. Cooper,  immediately for you free confidential consultation at 505-842-8494.