Heroin is a controlled substance made from morphine that’s naturally abundant in opium plants. Given its dangerous and addictive nature, many states make this substance illegal. A citizen of Marietta, Georgia, may face several penalties for buying or selling heroin.
Overview of Georgia drug laws
A controlled substance is any drug, including prescriptions, that may cause dependency, so they are regulated by law. Georgia law divides drug charges based on five schedules of controlled substances, which are I to V.
Heroin is listed under Schedule I because of its high risk of addiction and no accepted medical benefit. Schedules II to V decrease in addiction risk, and they include some prescription medication, such as allergy medicines and antidepressants. Georgia excludes most over-the-counter medication from drug schedules, but drivers can still get charged with drugged driving if impaired on them.
Penalties for sale and possession
A person charged with possession can face penalties for having the substance on their person or knowingly being in control of it. Possession of any amount of heroin counts as a felony with a jail sentence of 2-15 years for a first offense. A second offense for heroin possession carries a jail sentence of a minimum of 5 years to a maximum 30 years.
Selling heroin comes with a stiffer penalty, which includes 5-30 years of jail for first offenses. A second offense for selling heroin often includes penalties of a minimum 40 years to life in jail. Trafficking heroin commonly includes a $50,000 fine and up to five years of jail for at least 4 grams.
Drug laws are tough, but people arrested for drug crimes can fight the charges. In some cases, first offenders may be eligible for drug court.