San Diego Drug Crimes Defense Attorney

Under the Influence of Drugs

In California, it is illegal to be under the influence of drugs or a controlled substance. This excludes any drug which is legally prescribed by a doctor or physician; therefore medical marijuana is excluded from this law, as are other legally acquired prescription drugs. The minimum sentence for an under the influence charge is at least 90 days in county jail, with the maximum sentence one year in jail.

If you have been arrested for being under the influence of drugs, it is important to contact an attorney who can represent you should your case go to court. Not only will that, working with an attorney immediately will likely increase your chances of having a favorable outcome for your specific case – limiting the amount of evidence and strong case the prosecution can build. Under California’s Health and Safety Code, Section 11550, the court may permit a person to undergo a licensed drug rehabilitation program in lieu of part or all of their county jail sentence. An experienced lawyer may be able to help you get treatment instead of having to spend time in jail.

Illegal drugs, or controlled substances, include:

• Heroin
• Cocaine (crack or powder)
• Marijuana
• MDMA
• Methamphetamines (meth)
• PCP
• Ecstasy
• Cannabis
• LSD
• Peyote
• Methadone
• Speed
• Hashish
• Steroids
• Opium

The Law Office of James N. Dicks

San Diego drug crimes defense lawyer James Dicks is experienced in dealing with under the influence charges. No matter your charge, we fight for our clients and do everything we can to help them avoid jail sentences. We believe that drug offenders need rehabilitation, not punishment. Drug crimes defense lawyer James Dicks will do everything he can to make sure you do not serve time for your offense – so you can get the help you need.