Mecklenburg Drug Schedules

Mecklenburg follows the Federal Controlled Substances Act. A controlled substance is generally a drug or a chemical to manufacture, possess, or use as regulated by the Controlled Substance Act, in this case, the federal act. This policy was put in place and it lists controlled substances. These schedules help advise prosecutors and judges on how to handle drug cases. Depending on what was found on the person, the consequences can vary.

If you have been charged with drug offenses, it is essential that you consult an experienced drug lawyer who understands Mecklenburg drug schedules. The Federal Controlled Substances Act is a nation-wide policy and Mecklenburg follows these guidelines.

Definition of a Controlled Dangerous Substance

The Controlled Substances Act describes various illegal narcotics, starting with an example that comes from the Code of Virginia 54.1-3446 and is essentially a list of controlled substances found in Schedule 1. The list is extremely long. It covers opium derivatives and substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system and any substance that contains one or more (inaudible) metric agent.

Scheduled Categories

Schedule 2: Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse, which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Some common examples are Dilaudid, OxyContin, Percocet, fentanyl, morphine, opium, codeine, and Adderall.

Schedule 3: Substances in this schedule have a potential for abuse less than substances in 1 or 2 and abuse may lead to a moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Examples include combination products containing less than 15 milligrams of Hydrocodone per dosage unit and Suboxone. Suboxone has gotten to be common around Mecklenburg.

Schedule 4: Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse relative to substances in Schedule 3. They rarely get into even charging Schedule 4. For Klonopin, Ativan, and Valium, they generally do not even bother. The penalties are not severe enough to warrant law enforcement’s time unless it is in the midst of something else they are already doing.

Schedule 5 are substances that have a low potential for abuse relative to substances listed in Schedule 4 and consist primarily of preparation maintaining limited parties of certain narcotics. A lot of those are the cough syrups with some amount of Codeine in them. That is not something often charged in Mecklenburg.

Consulting an Attorney

When someone is facing drug charges, it is essential that they speak with a skilled attorney who understands the local and federal policies regarding drug possession. There are several categories of controlled substances and dangerous substances which impact minimum and maximum sentences. Depending on the type of drug and amount that was found in the person’s possession, it can determine the potential penalties and consequences.

If you are facing drug charges, it is important that your attorney understands Mecklenburg drug schedules and can ensure your rights are being protected throughout the investigation and trial process. There are several important factors that go into building a strong defense and a criminal lawyer can assist you during this process. They can answer any questions you may have, examine the evidence, challenge the prosecution, and determine the best course of action.