Due to the "War on Drugs," a large number of criminal cases filed each year involve  narcotics. As a result, many of the firm's cases involve the defense of those accused of possessing or dealing in illegal drugs.

Most drug offenses are now felonies. It is still a low grade misdemeanor to possess a small amount of marijuana. However,  possession of even the smallest amount of cocaine is a felony crime.

Penalties for drug offenses increase based on the activity as well as the quantity of drug involved. In other words, it is more serious if you are charged with possessing, say, methamphetamine with the intent to sell the drug than if you are merely charged with possessing the meth for personal use.

Manufacturing, (labs) possession of drug precursors, and transportation or other trafficking charges are very serious, and can result in lengthy prison sentences.

Government agents have sometimes been known to shade the truth or lie to get results in narcotics cases. Sometimes aggressive defense tactics must be used to reveal such conduct, or attack a search warrant.

Often there is only one viable defense to an accusation of drug possession or trafficking - a motion to suppress evidence, based on the 4th Amendment, arguing that the search that led to the discovery of the drugs was illegal.

Drug Diversion programs, commonly called "1000 PC" for the penal code section that defines the law, may be available to first offenders. This results in the eventual dismissal of charges after an education program, and does not result in a criminal conviction.

"Prop 36" law (enacted to place offenders in rehab instead of jail) can be a good option for multiple offenders; this law can be complex, and qualified legal representation is crucial.

Residential drug treatment programs can, in certain cases, be substituted for jail. Drug cases of all types are serious, and a creative approach to them is beneficial to clients.

Sometimes an arrest can be the start of rehabilitation for those with chemical dependency problems; we have often turned a negative contact with the criminal system into a positive new beginning for our clients.

We have also successfully represented clients in asset seizure cases, recovering tens of thousands of dollars of property the state sought to seize in drug cases.

Please visit the rest of our site to see Doug Allen's unique background, as well as success in some large narcotics cases.