Drug Purchase Defense

Drug purchase and possession are the most common criminal charges among drug-related offenses in Georgia. Under the law, "purchase" implies acquiring ownership through any means (buying, finding, receiving as a gift), while "possession" (storage) means having actual physical control over it. The severity of this crime depends directly on the type and quantity of the substance. Although possession of small amounts of certain drugs is decriminalized or subject to administrative fines, purchase and possession of large and particularly large quantities are still strictly punished, including long prison terms. Citizens are often unaware of the threshold between criminal and administrative liability, making them vulnerable before investigative bodies. Legal.ge connects you with experienced lawyers who will defend your interests and strive to avoid criminal liability or mitigate the sentence.

What Does Drug Purchase Defense Service Cover?

Timely lawyer involvement in this category of cases is decisive. Services include:

• Monitoring Initial Investigative Actions: Checking the legality of detention, personal search, and home search. Drugs are often seized with procedural violations (e.g., without witnesses), which can be grounds for invalidating evidence.
• Quantity Determination and Expertise: Establishing the pure weight of the drug. Prosecutions often rely on the mixture weight, while a lawyer demands separation of the pure substance, potentially changing the qualification (e.g., from large to small).
• Plea Bargaining: Negotiating with the prosecutor's office for a suspended sentence or fine, especially for first-time offenders.
• Diversion Mechanism: For youth and first-time offenses, working towards applying the diversion program, which allows avoiding a criminal record.
• Court Representation: Developing a defense strategy and representing the client in court hearings.

Real-World Scenarios When You Need This Service

Purchase/possession charges can arise in various circumstances:

• Street Stop and Search: Police stop a citizen and find drugs in their pocket. This is the most common scenario.
• Vehicle Search: Discovery of drugs in a car. It is important to establish who owned the substance if multiple people were in the vehicle.
• Pharmacy Medications: Possession of psychotropic medications without a prescription, which is also considered a drug crime.
• Online Purchase: Ordering drugs online and picking them up from a "dead drop." Police often monitor these locations.

Georgian Legal Framework and Regulations

Purchase and possession of narcotic drugs are regulated by Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (Parts 1, 2, and 3). The law distinguishes between small (administrative/criminal threshold), large, and particularly large quantities. Quantities for each substance (heroin, cocaine, Suboxone, etc.) are defined in the Law on Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, Precursors and Narclogical Assistance. A different regulation applies to marijuana (Article 273-prima). A lawyer's knowledge of these dosages and recent legislative changes is essential for a proper defense.

Service Process

Working with lawyers on Legal.ge involves:

1. Consultation: Assessing factual circumstances and evidence.
2. Strategy: Deciding whether to fight for acquittal or a plea bargain.
3. Negotiation: Communicating with the prosecutor to minimize the sentence.
4. Result: Concluding the case with the best possible outcome for the client (e.g., fine instead of prison).

Why Choose Legal.ge?

Timely reaction in drug purchase/possession cases often determines the question of freedom. Legal.ge gives you access to lawyers who understand how the system works and can protect your rights when dealing with the police and courts.