Costa Mesa Marijuana Possession Attorney
The possession of Marijuana in Costa Mesa – without a valid prescription is a crime. The offense is handled under California Health and Safety Code 11357, where a Costa Mesa District Attorney or prosecutor will need to determine that the drug offender had possession of the substance, and that he or she was aware of this.
Marijuana Possession in Costa Mesa comes with varied penalties. Here are the legal consequences that are determined by the quantity of marijuana found:
Marijuana That Is Not Concentrated
- First time offenders face infractions for carrying or possessing less than one ounce of marijuana. This is not in the concentrated form, and the penalty is $100.
- First time offenders face misdemeanor charges for carrying or possessing more than one ounce of marijuana. This is not in the concentrated form, and the penalties include up to six months in jail and up to five hundred dollars in fines.
Concentrated Marijuana Possession in Costa Mesa
For concentrated forms of marijuana, the penalties include either misdemeanor fines of up to one year in jail and up to five hundred dollars in fines. Felony marijuana possession subjects offenders to up to three years imprisonment in the state prison.
These charges are based on the possession of marijuana for personal use only. The possession with the intent to sell is a separate offense that is categorized under California Penal Code 11359.
The following is a fictional example of a Marijuana possession incident that could happen in Costa Mesa:
Victoria regularly smokes Marijuana to help alleviate pain, but she does not have a prescription from a medical professional, she simply buys it off of her friend who does. The Orange County fair has come to town for the summer and Victoria takes friends and family. When she gets there, she forgets that she has a canister of Marijuana in her purse and it is located when they search her purse before allowing her in. Victoria is cited by a Costa Mesa police officer and her Marijuana is confiscated.
Top Defenses for Marijuana Possession
The top defenses include that the offender was not aware of this substance in their possession, or that he or she was setup by someone else. These defenses are limited however, and a lawyer discuss the current options.
If you are facing Marijuana Possession in Costa Mesa, our CM criminal defense lawyers can assist you and your loved one. Even if you do not hire an attorney, obtaining a free case evaluation could help you avoid common mistakes. Call us today to speak with an attorney for free and find out about potential options.
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Over the years our firm has earned numerous awards and accolades for delivering outstanding legal representation. Some of our awards include: Admission to The National Top Trial Lawyers Association since 2014, AVVO Rating 10.0 Superb Rating, American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys Award "10 Best Attorney Client Satisfaction" in 2018, Nationally Ranked Top 100 Under 40 in California Attorney Award in 2017, Member of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce since 2018, Martindale-Hubbell Accredited Law Firm, Distinguished in Orange County Metro "Top Attorneys" section, and Featured in Orange Coast Magazine in April 2010 as one of "Orange County's Best Criminal Defense Attorneys".
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