It is well-known that the brain doesn’t fully mature until 25. Growing up in today’s fast paced, digital world, young people have many outside influences and pressures, and they might not exercise the best decision-making, whether it be at school, at home, at a party, or driving a car.
A conviction for a drug charge is a stain on one’s record and can seriously impact your child’s future, whether employment, financial, or travel-related. Despite their best intentions, a parent or caregiver may need a drug lawyer or a drug driving lawyer.
Typical Drug Offenses that May Require a Drug Lawyer
Typically, the police can charge your child with four types of drug offences:
- Use.
- Possession.
- Cultivation & Manufacture.
- Trafficking and Conspiracy.
If one’s child is involved in drugs at school, they could be suspended or expelled, and the school could also contact the police. The child's parents involved would be well served by contacting a drug offense lawyer for assistance.
Not Just Smoking in the Boys’ Room Anymore
Getting caught smoking, inhaling, injecting, or swallowing illegal drugs has serious consequences. One can be fined or sentenced to jail time or both, and it is also unlawful to inject drugs into someone else or put drugs in their mouth.
Most Common Offense: Drug Possession
One of the most common offences - drug possession - is when someone is caught with drugs, usually in one’s pockets, bag, or room. If an illegal drug is found in a person’s house or unit, the police must prove that they had physical control or custody of the drug or that the person knew the drug was there and intended to possess it.
Generally speaking, the smaller the amount of drugs one has in their possession, the less trouble they will be in. A drug offence lawyer should be retained to help a person defend this charge.
If Child Charged with Growing or Manufactured Drugs: Call a Drug Lawyer Right Away
Cultivating or growing an illegal plant is..well, illegal. So is the manufacturing of illicit drugs. If the drug isn’t being grown for personal use only, then a person could also be charged with drug trafficking.
Even possessing a recipe or the necessary equipment for making any illegal drug is an offence. The parent should seek counsel right away.
If Child is Selling Drugs: A Drug Offence Lawyer is Needed
If someone is found to have a large amount of drugs on them or at their home, the police will usually assume that they were planning to sell them to other people.
Equally important, if the drugs are over a certain weight, the court will presume that person was supplying, unless proven otherwise. A drug lawyer should be consulted immediately to defend against these charges.
Drug driving
The police in Victoria have the authority to randomly stop drivers and test them for drug impairment. If they believe that a person is drug-impaired, they can ask for a urine or blood sample.
The offence of driving under the influence of drugs is decided by whether drugs are in a person’s system, not on the amount found. So if someone took drugs several days before being tested, the test could be positive for drugs.
The three-drug impairment offences that a person can be charged with are:
- Driving while drug-impaired.
- Refusing to undergo a drug impairment assessment.
- Refusing to provide a blood or urine sample after a drug impairment assessment.
If one’s child is charged with these offences, a drug driving attorney should be consulted.
Conclusion
The courts treat drug offences very, very seriously. A young person’s future can hang in the balance if they are not appropriately represented. If you or someone you know have questions or need a confidential discussion, you can contact our drug offense lawyers today.
