Princeton Marijuana Misdemeanor Offense Attorneys
If you are arrested for a marijuana offense in New Jersey, you can face either a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on how much marijuana you had on you, as well as on other details of your case. If you had less than 50 grams, or possessed paraphernalia to smoke pot (e.g. a bong or pipe), you face a maximum of 6 months in jail and a fine of $1,000.
Misdemeanors are divided into three classes - a Municipal Ordinance Violation is the least serious; a Disorderly Persons Offense is the most serious (bordering on a felony).
If this is your first marijuana arrest, speak with your defense attorney about the possibility of Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) or a Conditional Discharge (CD). Essentially, the court systems are too crowded to take on all minor misdemeanor charges that come their way, and so they excuse some defendants on probation. If you qualify for PTI or CD, you may not have to enter a plea or worry about any convictions on your record. However, if you get arrested for another marijuana misdemeanor charge, you won't be eligible for PTI or CD a second time.
NJ Law imposes stricter sentences for offenders caught selling marijuana. Likewise, if you're busted for marijuana possession at a school, public park, housing project, or other designated public space or zone, you can face much stiffer penalties.
If you purchased the marijuana for medical use, must you still contend with a misdemeanor marijuana charge in New Jersey? Unfortunately, the current answer to this question is yes. But the New Jersey Senate has recently managed to push through a bill to legalize medicinal use of pot in NJ; assuming that the New Jersey State Assembly follows suit and passes the bill, State Governor Jon Corzine has already indicated a willingness to sign it into law.
For now, however, if you need representation to help out with your misdemeanor charge, please call the firm of Lependorf & Silverstein. Call today - (609) 240-0040 - to discuss your matter in confidence with a one of our skilled Princeton NJ marijuana defense lawyers.
Contact our team at Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation and let our smart, aggressive legal representation go to work for you today.