Drug Crime Lawyers Los Angeles
Expert Defense for Drug Possession, Sales, and Trafficking | Avoid Prison Through Diversion Programs
Drug Charges Don’t Have to Ruin Your Life – We Know How to Fight and Win
Being arrested for drug charges in Los Angeles or anywhere in California is terrifying. Whether you’re facing simple possession charges or serious drug trafficking allegations, you’re looking at potential jail time, hefty fines, a permanent criminal record, and consequences that follow you for life. Your job may be at risk. Your professional license could be suspended. Your immigration status might be threatened. Your family is worried sick. And the worst part? You may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the drugs weren’t even yours.
Here’s what most people don’t know: California has some of the most progressive drug diversion programs in the nation. At LibertyBell Law Group, our drug crime lawyers in Los Angeles have helped thousands of clients get their drug charges dismissed completely through diversion programs like PC 1000 (Deferred Entry of Judgment), Proposition 36 (Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act), Drug Court programs, and mental health diversion. We’ve kept clients out of jail, avoided felony convictions, and helped people maintain their careers, custody of their children, and immigration status.
⚠️ TIME-SENSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES YOU CANNOT MISS!
Drug diversion programs have strict eligibility requirements and narrow windows for enrollment. Missing these opportunities means facing full criminal prosecution with all the devastating consequences. Here’s what you need to know:
- PC 1000 (DEJ): Must request before preliminary hearing (usually 30-60 days after arrest). Once you miss this window, you’re ineligible forever in that case.
- Proposition 36: Must qualify at sentencing or initial probation. Prior violent/serious felonies can disqualify you.
- Drug Court: Limited spots available. Early application increases acceptance chances dramatically.
- Mental Health Diversion: Must be diagnosed and enrolled in treatment quickly, before case progresses too far.
- Pre-Filing Intervention: The absolute best outcome is convincing prosecutors NOT to file charges at all. This only works if we act immediately after arrest.
Don’t gamble with your future. Call LibertyBell Law Group NOW at (855) 529-7761. We’ll evaluate your eligibility for every available program and act immediately to protect your rights.
Understanding California Drug Laws: What You’re Really Facing
California drug laws have undergone massive changes in recent years, particularly with the passage of Proposition 47 in 2014, which reduced many drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. However, drug sales, trafficking, and possession with intent to sell remain serious felonies carrying lengthy prison sentences. Understanding exactly what you’re charged with and the potential consequences is crucial.
The Major Drug Crimes We Defend
Health & Safety Code 11350 – Possession of Controlled Substance
The Charge: Possession of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, GHB, ketamine, or other controlled substances for personal use.
Classification: Misdemeanor (thanks to Prop 47) if for personal use and no prior serious felonies.
Penalties: Up to 1 year in county jail, $1,000 fine, probation, mandatory drug treatment.
Diversion Available: PC 1000 (DEJ), Prop 36, Drug Court, Mental Health Diversion.
Key Defense: Challenging possession (drugs not yours), illegal search and seizure, lack of knowledge, rising to the level of usable amount.
Health & Safety Code 11351 – Possession for Sale
The Charge: Possessing controlled substances with intent to sell them, based on quantity, packaging, scales, cash, or other indicia of sales.
Classification: Felony (not reduced by Prop 47).
Penalties: 2-4 years in state prison, $20,000 fine, felony probation, asset forfeiture.
Diversion Available: Limited. Prop 36 may apply if no prior violent felonies and no sales to minors.
Key Defense: Proving drugs were for personal use only, challenging intent to sell, illegal search, entrapment by informants.
Health & Safety Code 11352 – Sale/Transportation of Controlled Substances
The Charge: Selling, furnishing, administering, or transporting controlled substances for sale.
Classification: Felony.
Penalties: 3-5 years in state prison (9 years if transported across county lines), $20,000 fine. Enhanced penalties if sales to minors, sales near schools, or large quantities.
Diversion Available: Generally not available for sales charges unless exceptional circumstances.
Key Defense: Challenging evidence of sale (no actual transaction), entrapment by undercover officers, illegal search, lack of intent to sell.
Health & Safety Code 11379 – Sale of Methamphetamine
The Charge: Selling, furnishing, administering, giving away, or transporting methamphetamine for sale.
Classification: Felony.
Penalties: 2-4 years in state prison, $10,000 fine. Consecutive sentences possible for multiple sales.
Diversion Available: Very limited. Must show extraordinary circumstances.
Key Defense: Challenging CI (confidential informant) testimony, exposing police misconduct, proving personal use quantities, illegal search.
Health & Safety Code 11378 – Possession of Methamphetamine
The Charge: Possession of methamphetamine for personal use.
Classification: Misdemeanor (reduced by Prop 47).
Penalties: Up to 1 year in county jail, $1,000 fine, drug treatment, probation.
Diversion Available: PC 1000, Prop 36, Drug Court highly available.
Key Defense: Illegal search, constructive possession challenges, contamination of testing, rising to usable quantity.
Health & Safety Code 11550 – Under the Influence
The Charge: Being under the influence of controlled substances (not possession, just being high).
Classification: Misdemeanor.
Penalties: Up to 1 year in county jail (typically 90 days to 6 months), drug treatment mandatory, probation.
Diversion Available: PC 1000, Drug Court, outpatient treatment programs.
Key Defense: Challenging officer observations, medical conditions mimicking intoxication, involuntary intoxication, lack of probable cause for detention.
Health & Safety Code 11357 – Possession of Marijuana
The Charge: Possession of marijuana over legal limits (28.5 grams for adults 21+, or any amount if under 21).
Classification: Infraction (adults 21+) or Misdemeanor (under 21).
Penalties: $100 fine (adults), up to 6 months jail and $500 fine (minors), drug counseling for minors.
Diversion Available: Typically not needed for infractions. Minors may get diversion.
Key Defense: Medical marijuana defense (if valid recommendation), illegal search, quantity measurement challenges.
Health & Safety Code 11359 – Possession of Marijuana for Sale
The Charge: Possessing marijuana with intent to sell it illegally (outside licensed dispensary framework).
Classification: Misdemeanor (if 21+), Felony (if prior serious felonies or sales to minors).
Penalties: Up to 6 months jail (misdemeanor), 16 months-3 years prison (felony), fines, probation.
Diversion Available: Possible for misdemeanor version.
Key Defense: Proving personal use, challenging indicia of sales, legal cultivation defense.
Health & Safety Code 11364 – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
The Charge: Possessing pipes, needles, syringes, or other drug paraphernalia.
Classification: Misdemeanor.
Penalties: Up to 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine, probation.
Diversion Available: Often combined with possession charges in diversion programs.
Key Defense: Lack of drug residue, items not drug paraphernalia, illegal search.
Federal Drug Trafficking (21 USC 841)
The Charge: Manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances. Federal charges for large quantities or interstate/international trafficking.
Classification: Federal Felony.
Penalties: 5-40 years federal prison (mandatory minimums based on drug type and quantity), up to life if death results, $5 million+ fines, asset forfeiture.
Diversion Available: No federal diversion programs. Cooperation agreements possible.
Key Defense: Challenging federal jurisdiction, negotiating cooperation agreements, attacking search warrants, challenging confidential informants.
The Life-Changing Consequences of Drug Convictions
Most people focus only on jail time and fines when facing drug charges. But the collateral consequences of drug convictions extend far beyond criminal penalties and can affect every aspect of your life for decades.
Employment Devastation
Drug convictions appear on background checks indefinitely. Most employers reject applicants with drug convictions, particularly for positions requiring trust, security clearances, or professional licenses. Healthcare, education, finance, government, and transportation jobs become nearly impossible to obtain.
Professional License Loss
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers, dentists, real estate agents, contractors, and other licensed professionals face disciplinary proceedings. State licensing boards can suspend or permanently revoke professional licenses for drug convictions, ending careers immediately.
Immigration Nightmare
Drug convictions (even simple possession misdemeanors) are deportable offenses for non-citizens. Green card holders can be deported. Visa holders become inadmissible. Naturalization applications are denied. There are very few waivers available for drug convictions.
Education Barriers
Federal student loans and grants (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans) are suspended for drug convictions. Many colleges and universities deny admission to applicants with drug convictions. Scholarship opportunities disappear. Graduate and professional school admissions become extremely difficult.
Housing Denial
Landlords routinely deny rental applications from people with drug convictions. Public housing and Section 8 housing are permanently unavailable for drug felony convictions. Mortgage applications become difficult with criminal records.
Child Custody Loss
Family courts consider drug convictions as evidence of unfitness for custody. Child Protective Services may remove children from homes. Visitation may be restricted to supervised visits. Custody battles are significantly impacted by drug convictions.
Firearm Prohibition
Felony drug convictions result in lifetime prohibition on owning or possessing firearms. Even misdemeanor drug convictions can trigger firearm prohibitions under certain circumstances. Second Amendment rights are permanently lost.
Financial Ruin
Court fines, attorney fees, bail, drug treatment costs, probation fees, and lost wages add up quickly. Many people lose their jobs due to incarceration or probation requirements. Asset forfeiture allows government to seize cash, vehicles, and property connected to drug offenses.
💡 Expert Tip #1: Diversion Programs Can Eliminate All These Consequences
Here’s the incredible power of drug diversion programs: successful completion results in complete dismissal of charges. No conviction. No criminal record. No
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