Los delitos de drogas en Washington están regulados por la Ley Uniforme de Sustancias Controladas (RCW 69.50). Según la ley, es ilegal que una persona fabrique, distribuya o posea con la intención de fabricar o distribuir una sustancia controlada. Una sustancia controlada se define en la Ley como «una droga, sustancia o precursor inmediato incluido en las Listas I a V establecidas en las leyes federales o estatales, o en las normas federales o de la comisión, pero no incluye el cáñamo ni el cáñamo industrial».
La mayoría de los delitos relacionados con drogas se consideran delitos graves, desde los de clase C hasta los de clase A. Si se le acusa de posesión de cualquier droga, excepto marihuana, se le imputará un delito grave de clase C, independientemente de la cantidad. Las penas máximas por delitos graves relacionados con drogas son:
La marihuana ya es legal en el estado de Washington, pero existen límites a su legalización. La marihuana no es legal:
Si lo atrapan con más de una onza pero menos de 40 gramos de marihuana, estará sujeto a enfrentar cargos por delito menor:
La Corte Suprema de Washington anuló recientemente leyes anteriores, considerándolas inconstitucionales. La nueva ley reclasifica la posesión de sustancias controladas, como la cocaína, la heroína y la metanfetamina, como un delito menor; la misma clasificación que la posesión de más de una onza de marihuana, sujeta a los mismos cargos.
Esta nueva ley expirará en dos años y volverá a la ley actual. El gobernador de Washington, Jay Inslee, en un Informe de noticias de EE. UU., dice que la legislación mueve el sistema para centrarse en la respuesta de salud conductual y abordar con éxito las necesidades que subyacen al abuso de drogas.
Existen muchas alternativas al encarcelamiento disponibles en los tribunales del estado de Washington, entre ellas:
Nos reuniremos con usted, analizaremos sus inquietudes y determinaremos sus objetivos para el resultado de su caso. Una vez que decidamos el curso de acción a seguir en su proceso legal, llevaremos su caso con profundo conocimiento y pericia.
Buscamos que se desestimen o reduzcan los cargos, independientemente de la clasificación.
Si ha sido acusado por posesión de drogas, comuníquese con nuestro Abogados de posesión de drogas en Seattle en Russell & Hill – Abogados de lesiones y accidentes, completando nuestro Formulario de evaluación de caso o llámanos al 800-529-0842.
If you have been placed under arrest and/or charged with a drug-related offense in Seattle, WA you have a lot to lose, and therefore immediate legal representation is of paramount importance.
Matthew Russell is my name, and I represent people across Washington State accused of drug offences. I represent individuals who have cocaine possession charges, marijuana possession issues, prescription drug cases, and the like, as well as possession of other controlled substances.
En Bufete de abogados Russell & Hill, we look at every drug possession case like it is our first case. The first thing we do is investigate all of the ways the police could have legally stop (or search you). We also challenge all unlawful (illegal) searches.
A lot of people think that a possession charge is “minor”. It is not! Possession continues to be a crime under RCW 69.50.4013 even after the significant change to Washington’s new drug laws. RCW 69.50.4013 was amended in order to reclassify simple possession as a gross misdemeanor by the Legislature after the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Blake (2021). This means:
A skilled drug possession lawyer will know how to work through the evolving statutes and how the King County prosecutor views these cases. Prosecutors build their case using police reports, lab reports and witnesses. Your defense attorney builds your case through constitutional protections, evidentiary challenges. and strategic leverage.
A possession conviction in Seattle can result in:
If jail time is avoided, the conviction remains on your record until it is resolved or vacated appropriately. You must hire a drug possession defense attorney when accused as it is protection.
In recent years, the way Seattle handles drug issues has changed quite a lot.
El Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, signed a bill creating a temporary decriminalization of certain possession charges after the state Supreme Court made their ruling (the Blake ruling). The result was a state of confusion about which drug possession cases were criminal charges and which cases were not, while the new laws were being developed by lawmakers.
During 2023, new legislation has resulted in drug possession being criminalized again as a gross misdemeanor and usually required to have a diversion offer made to the accused person before they can be charged. Depending on the individual circumstances and criminal history of the individual, Seattle prosecutors may offer either diversion or treatment option(s) to help resolve their case without a conviction.
It is important to be aware of the changes to Washington’s drug possession law, how those changes apply to Seattle and King County, and that each case is handled differently from another case.
If you did an online search using one of these terms:
You are not alone.
When people are accused of drug-related offenses, they are often looking for a Seattle attorney who understands:
Russell & Hill Law Firm has successfully represented thousands of clients all over Washington and knows how drug possession cases are generally handled in the courts, but not only in theory.
We provide legal representation for all types of charges related to drug possession, including, but not limited to:
Under Washington Revised Code (RCW) 69.50, examples of controlled substances include heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and prescription medications when there is no valid prescription.
An attorney who specializes in cocaine possession will assess the appropriateness of the drug test performed on the cocaine as well as whether it can be proven that possession exists.
The recreational use of marijuana is legal for individuals 21 years of age and older in Washington State; however, if an individual possesses marijuana over the legal limit or distributes marijuana without a license, it is still possible for the individual to be charged with a crime. An attorney who specializes in marijuana cases will also handle these types of cases with caution.
Possession with intent to deliver can be treated as a felony and will depend upon the strength of the evidence available.
Proving possession is often more complex than police reports suggest.
| Type of Possession | Meaning | Example |
| Actual Possession | Drugs found on your person | In a pocket |
| Constructive Possession | Control over area where drugs found | In your vehicle |
| Joint Possession | Shared control with another person | Shared apartment |
A lot of people ask this question. There is not one answer to this question, as there are many variables that must be taken into consideration; however, the most common defenses to possession of drugs include:
When evidence has been obtained through an unlawful search, that evidence will be excluded from trial. If there is no evidence to support the charge, the State cannot proceed against a defendant.
An experienced drug defense lawyer understands when to file a motion for suppression of evidence, as well as how to use suppression motions to strengthen their negotiations.
For those who are arrested for the first time, there are a lot of things to consider. Here’s an overview of what usually happens after an arrest.
When you’re booked into jail, there are a few possibilities for what will happen to you next:
This is your first court appearance in Seattle Municipal Court or King County Superior Court, where you’ll enter your plea and receive conditions of the court.
During this process, you will engage in several activities such as:
Although not every case will go to trial, all cases must be prepared for trial.
By a Criminal Defense Attorney at Russell & Hill Law Firm
An individual from Seattle was stopped by law enforcement for a infracción de tráfico and subsequently arrested after the officer found a small quantity of an illegal drug in the vehicle. The defendant was charged with possession of an illegal substance, which could lead to time spent in jail, possible probation, and a criminal record that would impact their ability to find employment.
Our team of attorneys at Russell & Hill Law Firm began to investigate and recover evidence to prepare for trial. In this case, we requested body camera video recordings, dash cam video recordings, and other pieces of evidence available to us through discovery to check for inconsistencies between what the officer said was the reason to conduct a “consent” search of the vehicle.
Russell & Hill Law Firm also drafted a motion to challenge the vehicle stop and the search of the vehicle based on the concept of constructive possession – essentially whether or not the State could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was in constructive possession of the illegal substance.
Once the prosecution had reviewed the motion and challenged the prosecution’s evidence, they offered a significantly reduced offer to resolve the case short of a criminal conviction. The defendant avoided jail time and has saved their professional future.
Russell & Hill Law Firm has provided quality legal counsel for individuals accused of crimes in Washington State since 1990. Our team has the skill and knowledge to protect your rights during the criminal process, including challenging illegal searches and weak evidence. If you are charged with drug possession (controlled substances), we will work diligently to get the best possible outcome for you.
To schedule a consulta gratuita with one of our criminal defense attorneys from Seattle, please call 800-529-0842.
Charges can be dismissed if evidence is excluded due to suppression of evidence, if the State is unable to establish possession, or if you have fulfilled the conditions of your diversion program.
Possession can be established by either actual possession, constructive possession, or joint possession.
At Russell & Hill Law Firm, we will discuss fees during the consultation process and are open and honest about your costs.
Adverse possession is a matter of property law as opposed to criminal possession. If you are being charged with possession of a controlled substance, you need a criminal defense attorney, not an adverse possession attorney.
The best attorney is one who has a lot of experience handling drug possession cases in King County, has an understanding of the changing laws in the state of Washington regarding drugs, and who prepares his or her clients for trial.
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