If you are facing drug charges, you need an experienced lawyer you can trust by your side. The Drugs Misuse Act is difficult legislation to navigate and often has serious and severe consequences. Maximum penalties can be up to 25 years imprisonment. With four criminal law accredited specialists in our team, we can give you the accurate legal advice you need.
Drug offences usually fall into the following categories:
The Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld) is the main piece of legislation when dealing with dangerous drugs, which are listed in schedules one and two of the Drugs Misuse Regulation 1987 (Qld). Schedule one dangerous drugs include cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine (speed, ice, crystal meth), lysergide (LSD), methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy, molly) and steroids. Schedule two dangerous drugs include cannabis, codeine, ketamine (special K), morphine, coca leaf, methadone and diazepam.
If you are charged with possessing, trafficking, supplying or producing dangerous drugs, you need a lawyer with experience and results. We have specially trained drug offence lawyers who represent clients charged with these offences every day. Call us immediately on 1300 557 884 if the police wish to speak to you or if you have been charged with a drug offence.
If you need help understanding your rights, are about to be questioned by police, or have been charged with drug offences, we can provide assistance, advice and representation. Contact us now to have a confidential discussion.
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Possessing a dangerous drug is a crime. It is the most common drug offence that comes before the Courts.
For a person to be found to be in possession of a dangerous drug, it must be established beyond a reasonable doubt that they were aware of the existence of the drug and exercising control over the drug. A person must also be aware that the substance is a drug or have a suspicion that it is a drug.
Regardless of whether the drug is yours or not, if it is in your possession you are committing a crime.
Should a drug be found in a person’s house / where they reside or in their motor vehicle, then that person is deemed to be in possession of the drug, unless they can show that they did not know nor had reason to suspect that the drug was in that place.
Some possible defences to possessing a dangerous drug include:
The offence of possessing a dangerous drug can be finalised in any of the Magistrates, District or Supreme Courts depending on the drug involved and the quantity of the drug. The penalties for possessing a dangerous drug include a maximum 25 years imprisonment for a schedule one drug, and a maximum 20 years imprisonment for a schedule two drug.
CONTACT USTrafficking conveys the notion of trading in or dealing with. If a person sells a drug to someone else, he or she is trafficking. Even a single transaction can constitute trafficking. A person charged with trafficking a dangerous drug will have their matter finalised in either the District Court or the Supreme Court, depending on the type of drug involved.
The penalties for trafficking in a dangerous drug are severe and usually include actual imprisonment. A person who unlawfully traffics in a dangerous drug can find themselves in jail for up to 25 years for a schedule one drug, and up to 20 years for a schedule two drug.
A person sentenced to a term of imprisonment will have to serve 80% of their sentence before they are eligible for release from custody. A person charged with trafficking may also have their assets forfeited to the State.
CONTACT USA person who supplies a dangerous drug to someone else is guilty of a crime. Supply has a very broad definition and includes not only giving, selling, administering, transporting or distributing a drug, but also offering to do such things or even doing any act in preparation of doing such things. Supply does not necessarily have to be to another. It can also include arranging a supply to yourself. It is not necessary that the drug is supplied for monetary or any other type of gain. Simply giving a dangerous drug to another person constitutes supply.
The offence of supplying a dangerous drug attracts a maximum penalty of up to 25 years imprisonment for a schedule one drug, or 20 years imprisonment for a schedule two drug.
A circumstance of aggravation applies where the drugs are supplied by an adult to a minor, a person with an intellectual impairment, someone within an educational institute or correctional centre, or a person who does not know they are being supplied with dangerous drugs. Should a person supply a schedule one drug to a minor, then the maximum penalty increases to life imprisonment.
CONTACT USA person who produces a dangerous drug is guilty of a crime. In the eyes of the law, producing drugs not only includes preparing, manufacturing, cultivating, and/or packaging, but also offering to do such things or undertaking any act in preparation of doing such things.
The offence of producing a dangerous drug can be finalised in any of the Magistrates, District or Supreme Courts, depending on the drug involved and the quantity of the drug. A person who produces a dangerous drug is guilty of a crime punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment for a schedule one drug, and up to 20 years imprisonment for a schedule two drug.
CONTACT USIt is a crime for a person who is an occupier, or who is concerned with the management or control of a place, to allow that place to be used for the commission of a drug offence. It does not need to be shown that the person had any involvement in the offence other than allowing the place to be used for the commission of a drug offence.
Some examples of permitting use of place include:
The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years imprisonment.
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