Bellingham Drug PossessionDrug offenses in Bellingham are serious felony crimes for which you can face severe penalties. Possessing any controlled substance excluding legal marijuana, including prescription drugs without a valid prescription, is a Class C Felony crime. If you have been charged with drug possession in Bellingham, you need a strong defense attorney to uphold your rights and protect your interests throughout the legal process.
Washington Possession LawsUnder RCW 69.50.4013(1), it is considered unlawful for a person to possess a controlled substance without a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his or her professional practice. In Washington, this applies to all controlled substances except recreational marijuana.
Although marijuana is still considered a Schedule I controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration, its recreational use has been legalized throughout the state. Adults 21 or older may possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, 16 ounces of marijuana product in solid form and 72 ounces of marijuana product in liquid form so long as the marijuana products are legally obtained. However, possessing over 40 grams of marijuana constitutes a Class C Felony possession crime. |
Controlled SubstancesAn extensive list of prescription drugs and other substances for each category of controlled substance falls under Chapter 69.50: Uniform Controlled Substances Act of the Washington Statutes. Common substances include heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, steroids, methadone, and amphetamines.
Drugs are ranked and categorized based on their potential risk for addiction and their medicinal value. Despite the fact that marijuana is used for medical reasons in several states, the federal government continues to include the drug in Schedule I -- the harshest category for substances considered to have a high potential for abuse with no medical use. Categories range from Schedule I through Schedule V, which carries the lowest potential for abuse. Possession of Schedule I drugs may carry elevated penalties. |
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If you are charged with possession of controlled substances without legal cause, penalties may include steep fines of up to $10,000 and a long prison sentence of five years.You should not hesitate to speak with a dedicated drug possession attorney in Bellingham to discuss your case. Call T M Anderson Law at (360) 734-0908 for a free legal consultation. |
I am a local boy, born and raised in Whatcom County, and I understand the complexities and inner-workings of this very interesting and diverse community. My families have lived here for at least 5 generations and I am proud of my heritage and deep roots here.
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Todd made this huge mistake I made into something manageable, helping me each step of the way in taking the steps I needed to take in order to get my life back on track. I never want to go back to jail, and I know that if something ever happened to me or my friends or family, Todd would do everything to get the best result possible!!
- Brittani Howell
Todd was amazing! I thought for sure I would get a DUI on my record, but Todd reviewed my case thoroughly and found several issues, one of which he used to convince the prosecutor to dismiss the DUI and get me a traffic infraction! I was so amazed, I couldn't believe it! Todd is thorough, smart, and has a great calming demeanor that made me relax and not stress out about court. Todd is a great attorney and I'd recommend him to everyone.
- Mrika Pali
Todd knows his stuff! He worked hard on my behalf, researching the unique issues of my case and made the prosecutor understand my case should be dismissed. The officer made a mistake and Todd saw that right away and made that mistake into my salvation!
- Shane