Virginia drug lawyer work involves dealing with a harsh sentencing scheme, if the defendant gets convicted. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I knoow that the good samaritan ("GS") law is not only essential for reviewing when a drug overdose is involved, but that the GS...
Addiction is an issue for numerous criminal defense clients, particularly in DUI, drug possession, and sex cases alleging child pornography and indecent liberties. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I repeatedly recommend substance programs to my Virginia DUI and drug clients, and psychological counseling for clients...
Drug death happens too often from overdosing on illegal drugs. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that opioids often are the culprit in such deaths, not helped at all by physicians who overprescribe Oxycodone, then deny addicted patients' frantic requests to accelerate the Oxy...
Mary Jane / marijuana / reefer post-July 1, 2020 use and possession is now a Virginia civil offense carrying a $25 fine. However, as a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that marijuana use can continue to be a security clearance and immigration issue, and its...
Beware what happens when police find contraband in the automobile in which you are in the driver's or passenger's seat. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that too many Virginia police and prosecutors will pursue a prosecution of everyone in the car, leaving...
Imitation drug ("ID") selling does not insulate a Virginia criminal defendant from a conviction. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that an ID is "(i) a counterfeit controlled substance" or (ii) a substance that is not a controlled substance but which by such factors...
Contraband items can come in the form of illegal drugs, illegal weapons, and a whole host of other illegal items. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that defenses against such prosecutions sometimes includes challenging the proximity of the defendant to the suspect items in...
LEO -- law enforcement officers -- home searches can only lawfully take place with a valid search warrant, sufficient consent from an authorized person, or (infrequently) exigent circumstances. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that police search caselaw is not as friendly to criminal...
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a Virginia conviction for meth possession carries up to ten years in prison, as opposed to a conviction for meth (or any other Schedule I or II drug) possession with...
Blabbermouthing with police is a dangerous thing. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know the importance for criminal suspects and arrestees to remain silent with the police, and too often see them foster a conviction by not asserting their rights under the United States Constitution's...
Conspiratorial conduct -- known as a conspiracy -- arises when two or more people enter an agreement to commit a crime or series of crimes. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that for certain non-drug felony conspiracies, the Virginia sentencing maximum is less than...
420 is another word for marijuana, referencing a 4:20 p.m. time to toke and today's 4/20 date to celebrate. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer. I spiritedly defend against marijuana and other drug prosecutions, running from simple possession to multiple plants and distribution / possession with...
Toking pot is popular with millions of people. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that Virginia's governor has approved legislation decriminalizing marijuana, with a few minor recommended amendments. Virginia SB 2. July 1, 2020 is the default date for new Virginia legislation to...
Drug 251 dispositions involve the withholding of a drug possession conviction under Virginia Code § 18.2-251, and is only available if the criminal defendant has not before received a 251 disposition or applicable drug conviction. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know that a 251...
Pill popping is all too common, but that -- without more evidence -- does not make a car's driver culpable in Virginia for one illegal drug pill found in the console between the front seats. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, not only do I...
Reefer decriminalization finally has passed the Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, most likely to be signed by the commonwealth's Democratic governor after the two chambers' bill versions are harmonized. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer and drug defense attorney, I applaud this progress with...
Bench pushback is here in Northern Virginia, where judges will not automatically rubber stamp mutually agreed requests to dismiss criminal charges nor mutually agreed sentences and suspended imposition of sentence terms and conditions. Some judges will even ponder from the bench about whether certain prosecutorial...
Psychedelic drugs can provide important health benefits for a variety of psychological ailments. As a Fairfax criminal defense lawyer, I know that for years, LSD, psilocybin, magic mushrooms / shrooms and other psychedelics got lumped in with cocaine and heroin for criminalization and sentencing ranges,...
DFS -- the Virginia Department of Forensic Science -- on January 24, 2020, announced (1) a new testing procedure to rule out industrial hemp and (2) no longer requiring a court order for the agency to test suspected marijuana. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I...
Marijuana dismissal for most simple pot possession (versus possession with intent to distribute) cases has arrived with the new Fairfax County and Arlington County, Virginia, prosecutors, who took office this week. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I see this as a big leap forward for...
