If you have been charged with drug possession in Larimer County, then you need a Fort Collins drug defense attorney by your side. Illegal search and seizure goes against the 4th amendment, yet Fort Collins Police often employ dishonest tactics and deception when they are looking for evidence of drugs. Any evidence the police collect in an illegal search can be suppressed in a court of law.
Fort Collins Drug Defense Lawyer: What is a Drug Charge?
The police arrest people for drug charges involving:
Cocaine (All-American drug, Barbs, Blow, Coke, Star, Witch, Zip, etc)
Crack Cocaine (Applejacks, B.J.’s, Beamers, Chewies, Dip, Electric Kool-Aid, Yale, etc.)
Heroin (Antifreeze, Ballot, Big H, Black Tar, Dirt, Holy Terror, Silk, 57 Chevy, etc.)
Vicodin (Vic, Vike, Watson-387) or OxyContin (Oxy, OC), when obtained without a prescription
Methamphetamine (Meth, Ice, Cookies, Rocket Fuel, Chalk, etc.)
Ecstasy (Doves, Skittles, Sweets, Dancing Shoes, Egg Rolls, etc.)
Prescription Fraud
Marijuana (Mary Jane, Dope, Grass, Hash, Joy Smoke, etc.)
Marijuana Cultivation
Each of these illegal substances is classified as Schedule I, II, III, or IV based on their characteristics. If you have been charged with a drug crime that involves the sale or possession of any of the above controlled substances, contact our Fort Collins drug defense attorneys immediately.
Larimer County Drug Defense Attorney: What are Drug Schedules?
Each drug has its own classification that is decided by its potential for abuse, whether or not it has an accepted use in treatment in the United States, and whether or not is lacks accepted safety for user under medical supervision.
Schedule I – C.R.S. 18-18-203
Drugs that are classified under schedule I are considered the most dangerous. They are included in schedule I because they have:
- A high potential for abuse
- No acceptable medical use for treatment
- Lacks safety for use under medical supervision
- Some examples of drugs included in schedule I are heroin, ecstasy and hashish
Schedule II – C.R.S. 18-18-204
Drugs that are classified under schedule II have a lower potential for abuse than schedule I. They are included in schedule II because they:
- Have a high potential for abuse – the use of these drugs may lead to “severe psychological or physical dependence.”
- Are currently accepted for medical use, but are under severe restrictions
- An example of drugs included in schedule II is OxyContin, meth, cocaine, and morphine.
Schedule III – C.R.S. 18-18-205
Drugs that are classified under schedule III may contain some of the substances listed in schedule II drugs, but they are not as abused or addictive. They are included in schedule II because they:
- Have a potential for abuse “less than the substances included in schedules I and II.”
- Have a currently accepted medical use.
- The abuse of these substances may lead to moderate or low physical dependence.
Sentences for Drug Crimes in Larimer County
New drug laws went into effect in October 2013. We are now operating under C.R.S. 18-18-403.5, C.R.S. 18-18-04, and 18-1.3-401.5. With the introduction of these statutes, a new class of drug offense has been created. These are Drug Felony Crimes and Drug Misdemeanor Crimes. These are:
Drug felony 1 (DF1)
Drug felony 2 (DF2)
Drug felony 3 (DF3)
Drug felony 4 (DF4)
Drug misdemeanor class 1 (DM1)
Drug misdemeanor class 2 (DM2)
Drug petty offense (DPO)
The changes affect people who have been charged with the possession or manufacture of the serious Schedule I and Schedule II drugs such as meth, heroin, and cocaine. These new laws went into effect to ease the burden of drug users in Colorado prisons. The focus is now more on rehabilitation instead of incarceration.
Why You Need an Experienced Fort Collins Drug Defense Attorney
You will mean much more to us than just another case – we will treat you like we would treat our own family.
Here at the O’Malley Law Office, we will fight hard for you when you are facing drug charges. You will mean much more to us than just another case – we will treat you like we would treat our own family. If you have a drug addiction, we will be just as concerned for your health and abuse issue as your criminal case. If you have an addiction problem, it is vital to get into a drug rehabilitation and treatment program as quickly as possible. Doing so will likely help you obtain more favor in court. We have a network of drug abuse rehabilitation providers that we work hand and hand with in our defense of drug-related crimes.