Drug crimes are serious. Any alleged drug charge can have serious consequences on the future of an Arkansas resident. For this reason, it is important that readers seek the counsel of knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys when they are charged with drug-related crimes. This post should not be substituted for legal guidance, as it provides general information only.
Drug possession and drug trafficking are two different crimes under the law. While they both involve the alleged possession of an illegal substance by a person, they differ significantly in terms of what must be proven for a conviction and how a person may be punished. For example, drug possession charges require only that an individual know that a substance is illegal and that they also have possession of it. Prosecutors do not have to prove anything further in terms of what the individual may do with the alleged drug: having it is enough.
However, drug trafficking involves more than just having an illegal substance under one’s control. Drug trafficking may involve selling, moving or dealing in illegal substances. Drug traffickers often are found to have profited from their alleged illegal endeavors, and because their alleged actions may cause illegal substances to move to other individuals and communities, their alleged crimes are penalized more strictly than those associated with simple possession charges.
Drug trafficking is a felony under both state and federal law, and convictions can result in long-term prison sentences. While it is not possible to guarantee any legal outcomes when it comes to criminal trials, defense attorneys can support the individual needs of their clients as they fight for their freedoms. Both drug trafficking and drug possession charges are serious and should be handled by legal professionals.
