The many aspects of drug issues across the United States as well as across the world are imposing more and more on people’s daily lives and more and more people are losing their lives because of drugs. The drug issue has been increasing for many years and it is certainly not getting any better. The entire nation is plagued by drugs and all of the destruction and havoc that it wreaks on a regular basis. The drug war is also real and abounding in Georgia.
If you are charged with drug trafficking, depending on the drug schedule and quantity, there is a range of severity of penalties. Drug trafficking is an extremely serious charge and law enforcement, no matter where you are, is taken very seriously. There are different penalties for the different substances and the penalties go from a minimum of 10 years for a first offense for Schedule I and II drugs (such as fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, LSC and methamphetamine) to life in prison for a third (or more offense).
What do the different schedules mean?
There are five drug class schedules (I-V) and the least dangerous is Schedule V and the most dangerous is Schedule I. The explanations follow.
- Schedule I: These are drugs with a high potential for abuse. They are also considered to have no benefit (medically).
- Schedule II: These drugs with a high potential for abuse and the potential for the user to become psychologically and physically dependent on the substance. The prescribing of drugs in this schedule are very restricted because of that.
- Schedule III: These drugs have less potential for abuse, little or some potential for physical or psychological dependence and are widely prescribed by medical professionals.
- Schedule IV: These drugs have a lower chance of abuse, very low potential for the user to become psychologically or physically dependent and are widely prescribed by medical professionals.
- Schedule V: These drugs have the least potential for abuse, there is very little chance that the user will become dependent, physically or psychologically, and they are widely accepted as medical treatment.
Valuable advice from a Georgia attorney
If you have been charged with drug trafficking, no matter how serious the charges are, you may still benefit from speaking with an attorney who has experience with this type of criminal defense. The advice and knowledge of the attorney may help your case a great deal and the outcome may be better than you had hoped for with the attorney by your side at every turn in the process.