Lawyer for Spokane and Surrounding Counties for Manufacturing Charges

Understanding Drug Manufacturing Charges

Under Washington law, the "manufacture" of a controlled substance means the "production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, or processing" of a drug. This definition of "manufacturing" includes accusations of growing marijuana or cannabis. The law takes the manufacture of a controlled substance very seriously in Washington State. Whether your case is in Spokane, Okanogan, Stevens County or elsewhere in the surrounding counties, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side. Mr. Graham is a recognized nationwide authority on the subject of marijuana, dispensaries, and other drug issues, and writes about these topics in his blog.

Defenses to Charges of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance

One of the first places to start in the defense of a charge of the manufacture of a controlled substance is to look at any search warrants involved in a case. Oftentimes, the police will execute a search warrant for a residence or building where suspected criminal activity is occurring. It is important for a criminal defense lawyer to take a close look at the probable cause for such a warrant.

There are many technical requirements under the law. When the police find evidence of a marijuana grow or a drug laboratory, they do not always charge the correct person. Many homes have multiple people living there, and people often come and go. The police do not usually fingerprint the equipment to determine who is involved in the operation. For example, the police usually have difficulty in showing who watered the plants, and who arranged the grow lights.

Manufacture of a Controlled Substance - Marijuana

The most common manufacturing charge in Washington is the marijuana charge. Only those with a grow license issued by the state can grow marijuana under I-502. Under our laws, a manufacturing charge can be brought even for a single marijuana or "pot" plant. The Court of Appeals has ruled that even growing marijuana for one's own personal use constitutes "manufacturing."

Charges can result from germinating seeds, or from full-grown, flowering plants. The charge of "manufacture of a controlled substance - marijuana" is a class C felony with a possible punishment of up to 5 years in prison. The standard range of punishment is 0 to 6 months in jail for an individual with no criminal history. A defendant may be eligible for drug court in such venues as Spokane County, and Okanogan County. A defendant is usually sentenced to a term of community custody (probation) for up to 12 months.

Twenty-four months of prison can be added to a sentence if the crime were to occur in a school zone. Larger marijuana grow operations can lead to charges in Spokane Federal Court. It is also important to have a creative and thorough attorney who can spot potential weaknesses and technical defenses to your criminal court case. A Spokane drug lawyer can assist you during your case.

Manufacturing of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin

Although the most common form of drug "manufacturing" in Washington is the marijuana grow operation, charges are also seen for the manufacture of cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin. The charge of manufacture of cocaine usually takes place when there is an allegation that a person was converting the powdered cocaine into crack cocaine.

The manufacturing of cocaine is a class B felony with a possible punishment of up to 10 years in prison. The standard range punishment is 12 to 20 months in the state penitentiary. A defendant is usually sentenced to a term of community custody (probation) for up to 12 months. Twenty-four months of prison can be added to a sentence if the crime were to occur in a school zone, and additional punishments can be imposed if the offense is committed while being armed with a deadly weapon.

The punishment for the manufacturing of methamphetamine is the most severe, and the standard range sentence is 51 to 68 months in prison. Let our Spokane drug attorney help you on your serious case. See also our pages on drug possession, and drug delivery.

Accomplice Liability

A crime defense lawyer will often handle cases where the defendant is charged with being an accomplice. Under Washington law a person is an accomplice to manufacture of a controlled substance when he or she aids, abets, or encourages the crime. People often face such charges when the police suspect them of providing a building or structure for the manufacturing of drugs, or when providing the equipment or even acting as a lookout. Under our state law, the punishments for being an accomplice are the same as for the major participant. Accomplice charges need to be taken very seriously, and a criminal defense law firm should be consulted right away.

An Aggressive Defense Lawyer is Needed

Whether your charge is in Spokane, Grant, Lincoln, Stevens or Okanogan County, you deserve a skilled drug defense lawyer to properly defend you. When you meet with attorney Steve Graham for a consultation, he will look at the specific drug charges brought against you.

He can properly advise you as to how he can best provide an effective defense. Because of his training and experience, lawyer Steve Graham can defend people in an innovative and thorough manner. These serious allegations call for a defense lawyer that is aggressive and dedicated to your defense. Avoiding criminal convictions is always the top goal that lawyer Steve Graham has for his clients.

Free Consultation

Would you like to discuss your case with me? I am available for free consultations on criminal cases. You won't get a sales pitch, or any judgments made about what you have done. You will simply receive my honest opinion and I will listen and answer your questions.