A lot of people have to take prescription drugs to help them combat their illnesses. These medications and other controlled substances are heavily regulated, and misusing, abusing, and/or counterfeiting prescription drugs and other drugs is against the law in the state of Tennessee (and the other 49 states).

We think it’s important that you know the penalties and fines related to criminal drug charges for prescription drugs. It’s not that we think you’re dealing your own meds; it’s that you can find yourself in trouble if your scrips aren’t up-to-date, or if it looks like you’re lying about your meds.

Types of drug-related offenses

Under Tennessee state law, there are five primary types of drug-related offenses:

• Simple possession
• Possession with intent
• Sale of a controlled substance
• Drug manufacturing
• Drug trafficking and conspiracy

Like its name suggests, simple possession is when you simply possess or use a controlled substance and is a misdemeanor offense. However, you do not have to have the substance physically on you in order to be charged with simple possession; the substance could be somewhere in your house, in your car, and the like. A felony offense, possession with intent often involves how many grams of the substance you have, how many dollars you have, and whether you have scales typically used to weigh large amounts of controlled substances, containers typically used to transport controlled substances, and the like. A felony offense, sale of a controlled substance, regardless of how many grams of the controlled substances that are there, is just that: one person sells the substance and another person buys the substance. However, in order to charge people with sale of a controlled substance, the police generally have to witness the sale.

Drug manufacturing is when you use chemicals and other materials to produce drugs, such as methamphetamine, which must be nurtured synthetically.  Drug trafficking is a broader term and often includes the manufacturing, distributing, transporting, and/or selling of a controlled substance, and drug conspiracy involves the planning of said acts between two or more people.

What are the penalties for drug-related offenses in Tennessee?

The number and severity of the drug offenses, which you are charged with and/or convicted of, determine the harshness and length of the penalties you face. However, you likely will face:

• Driver’s license suspension or revocation
•  Property seizure and/or forfeiture
•  Incarceration
• Community service
• Mandatory drug rehabilitation and/or education
•  Probation
• Increasingly steep fines

Some of us human beings need and use prescription drugs to help maintain their health. Nevertheless, prescription drugs and other controlled substances are heavily regulated, and if you violate any or all of the laws, you could be charged with and/or convicted of simple possession, possession with intent, sale of a controlled substance, drug manufacturing, and/or drug trafficking.

If you and/or a loved one are facing charges and/or convictions for committing drug-related crimes, call the Knoxville criminal defense attorneys at Banks and Jones: 865-546-2141. You can also contact us through this form. We always Fight 2 Win for you!