Possession of Marijuana in Georgia

Though a relatively less harmful drug than a number of the other people that discuss its own category, marijuana possession in Georgia nevertheless includes harsh sentencing and penalties if convicted.


Not only are you going to be potentially subjected to prison time and heavy fines, a conviction can bring unintended consequences with it. This could include the inability to pursue particular professional jobs, ineligibility for admissions to particular graduate programs, in addition to losing the eligibility to get some kinds of governmental aid that many rely upon.


Knowing the legislation and procedure concerning a possession of marijuana bill is the very first step in maintaining this problem from becoming a significant long-term difficulty on your lifetime.

O.C.G.A §16-13-2 says that ownership of less than 1 ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor and could be punishable by up to a year in prison plus a fine of up to $1,000. In some specific situations, a person might have the ability to do community service for up to 12 weeks.

In the event that you were supposedly found with a ounce or more of marijuana, then you'll most probably be charged with a felony, that includes a presumptive sentence of one to ten years in prison and / or fines up to $10,000.

The state of Georgia does distinguish between different"forms" of ownership. In accordance with Georgia Code, an alleged criminal should have actual or constructive possession of marijuana so as to be billed.

• Actual Possession - normally means the bud was at the alleged offender's hands, in their entire body, in their clothes or inside their immediate reach.

• Constructive ownership - normally signifies the alleged offender managed to take charge of the bud, they'd aim to take possession of the bud, plus they had the understanding which the marijuana was in their existence. Due to all of the requirements required to convict on a constructive basis, this is a far harder bill to prosecute.

Regardless of what the circumstance, you're also not able to apply to be given a restricted or hardship driving license. In terms of reinstatement of your license, you'll have to complete a Medication Risk reduction plan and pay a reinstatement fee of $200.

With the sheer number of negative effects that develop following a marijuana possession conviction, a successful defensive strategy is essential in preventing these extremely punitive and stress causing penalties. If you decide to utilize a Georgia criminal defense lawyer, this job is best done as soon as possible. This permits your lawyer to run any necessary impartial investigation, consult with witnesses and experts, or collect time-sensitive info.
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