Drug Laws

The following list highlights some common, Michigan drug-related statutes usually related to marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, crystal meth, Vicodin and Xanax, as well as other prescription medications and illegal drugs. Check our Resources page for a link to the Michigan Legislature that will allow you to read the actual text of the statutes and their penalties.

Remember, the burden of proof regarding the charges against you lies with the prosecution. Their job is to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You need a qualified drug crime lawyer with the knowledge, resources and experience to effectively preserve evidence, prepare your case and ensure that your rights are protected. If you have been accused of drug related offense, do not hesitate to call the office of Paul J. Tafelski or contact our criminal defense lawyers online. Do not jeopardize your future; these are serious charges with serious penalties if convicted.

The most common drug offenses usually stem from automobile stops. Usually, these cases involve when someone’s vehicle gets stopped for one reason or another, and the police either suspects some kind of drug use or the police arrests the person for some other reason like driving on a suspended license or drunk driving.

The person may have an outstanding warrant and as a result of being lawfully arrested of some other charge, the police then get the opportunity to search the car as part of an inventory search and then find the drugs. That’s the most common way that people end up with the drug charges, from some sort of vehicle search.

Certain Types of Drugs or Drug Cases Seen More Often

Yes. Mostly, it deals with which drugs are most popular. These days, you see a lot of marijuana cases, you see a lot of heroin cases, a lot of prescription pill cases, and then of course there’s always cocaine or crack cocaine and then some of the more less common drugs such as crystal meth or things like that.

What Determines Whether a Drug Charge Falls Under A Misdemeanor or a Felony in The State of Michigan?

Most of the drug charges in Michigan, besides marijuana, are felony charges. In some counties, they may have an alternative misdemeanor ordinance occasionally, calling it a violation of Controlled Substances Act, and they may charge it as a misdemeanor. However, under state law, most of the drugs are felonies except for marijuana.

In Michigan, Are There Different Schedules of Controlled Substances?

In general, you have the most serious scheduled drugs that are street drugs like heroin, cocaine, different opium that are felonies, that are street drugs that are illegal in the circumstances.

The other category includes Vicodin or Oxycodone and Oxycontin and things like that that are prescription drugs that are valid and legal for someone who has a good script but are illegal and the felony for someone who doesn’t have a valid prescription. Then you have marijuana, which is the least scheduled drug.

If you need information about the Laws Concerning Drug Crimes In Michigan, contact the law office of Attorney Paul Tafelski online or call (248) 451-2200 for a free initial consultation and get the information and legal answers you’re seeking.