Being charged with a drug offense in Arizona can be a scary moment in one’s life. There are a lot of unknowns that you could be facing when it comes to potential penalties and collateral consequences of being convicted. Because there are a lot of nuances surrounding drug charges, it is important to have an experienced attorney by your side to defend your rights. 

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If you have been charged with a drug offense, it is important that you consult with a criminal defense attorney. When working with our law firm, you will have an experienced attorney who will provide an aggressive representation so that you can have the best chance to get your case resolved. We offer free consultations to help you determine what your next steps need to be.

The penalties for being convicted of a drug crime in Arizona can range widely depending on the specific charges you are facing. Being a first time offender vs a repeat offender will also have an impact on the penalties you could potentially face. Some of the penalties you could be facing are:

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First Time Offender:

• Class 2 Felony -  Minimum 4 years, Maximum 10 years
• Class 3 – Minimum 2.5 years, Maximum 7 years
• Class 4 – Minimum 1.5 years, Maximum 3 years
• Class 5 – Minimum .75 years, Maximum 2 years
• Class 6 – Minimum .5 years, Maximum 1.5 years

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Repeat Offenders: There are 3 categories that repeat offenders can fall into. Offenders in category 3 will receive the harshest penalties. 

• Class 2 – Minimum 14 years, Maximum 28 years
• Class 3 – Minimum 10 years, Maximum 20 years
• Class 4 – Minimum 8 years, Maximum 12 years
• Class 5 – Minimum 4 years, Maximum 6 years
• Class 6 – Minimum 3 years, Maximum 4.5 years

Laws can be created at both the State and Federal level. More often than not, the laws between the federal government and state government overlap to some extent. There are many drug laws that have been created at the state level and many at the federal level. It is very possible to face state level drug charges and federal drug charges at the same time:

• Federal Drug Charges: Federal Drug Charges are more serious than state drug charges. Federal drug charges may be brought against you for intent to distribute, drug trafficking or manufacturing drugs. Federal charges tend to target individuals who are making an effort to profit off of drugs. 

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• State Drug Charges: State Drug Charges carry less of a penalty than federal charges. An example of a state drug charge may be if you are caught with a small amount of cocaine in your pocket.