It is illegal to produce or manufacture controlled substances or prescription drugs without a license. Even possessing the materials necessary to manufacture some drugs is against the law.
Drug manufacturing charges can lead to severe consequences, so you need a drug defense attorney with the right experience to take on your case. Contact a Tolleson drug manufacturing lawyer from Grand Canyon Law Group as soon as you get arrested.
The laws concerning narcotics, dangerous drugs, and prescription drugs appear in different sections of the Arizona statutes. These complex drug laws can be difficult to decipher, but a Tolleson attorney could explain the elements of the charge an accused faces in a specific case.
Arizona Revised Statute § 13-3407(A)(3), (4) makes it illegal to produce dangerous drugs, which includes ecstasy, LSD, methamphetamine, PCP, and many others. It is also illegal to possess the materials necessary to manufacture a dangerous drug.
A.R.S. 13-3408(A)(3), (4) bars the manufacture of narcotics, which are controlled substances that have or previously had an approved medical use. Codeine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone are common examples of narcotics. The law also prohibits possessing the materials necessary to manufacture narcotics.
A.R.S. § 13-3406 describes the prohibition on illicit manufacturing of drugs that are available only by prescription. Some examples include Adderall, Ativan, Demerol, and Xanax. Anyone manufacturing these products without a license, or possessing the materials to produce one of these drugs, can be arrested for a crime.
Possessing the means to manufacture a narcotic or a dangerous drug other than methamphetamine is a Class 3 felony. Having the capacity to make methamphetamine is a Class 2 felony, and producing any narcotic or dangerous drug is a Class 2 felony.
The state’s sentencing scheme sets forth a presumptive sentence that accounts for the category of the crime and whether the offender has prior convictions. Mitigating circumstances could shorten the sentence and aggravating circumstances could lengthen it.
For drug manufacturing convictions that do not involve methamphetamine, first offenders could be eligible for probation if they did not possess more than a threshold quantity of a drug. A Tolleson attorney could negotiate a probation-only sentence in an appropriate case.
The presumptive sentence for a first offender upon conviction of a Class 3 felony is three years and six months in prison. With one prior, the presumptive sentence is six and a half years, and with two priors, it is eleven years, three months.
The presumptive sentence for a first offender convicted of a Class 2 felony is five years, with a range of three to 12.5 years. With one prior conviction, the presumptive sentence increases to nine years, three months and with two prior convictions, 15 years and three months.
Manufacturing prescription drugs or possessing the means to do so is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A conviction could lead to up to six months in jail and a hefty fine. Someone convicted a second time within two years would face penalties for a Class 6 felony, which could lead to up to one year in jail.
A defendant in Tolleson stands the best chance of avoiding the severe penalties for a drug manufacturing conviction by working with a skilled and experienced attorney. They will consider the unique aspects of every case and present the most robust defense available, given the evidence.
When a defendant suffers from drug addiction, a drug court or another diversion program could be a viable option. Drug court requires close supervision, counseling, and drug treatment to rehabilitate offenders rather than sentence them to prison.
In other circumstances, fighting the charges might be the best alternative. When there is evidence of police misconduct or the prosecutor’s evidence is weak, forcing the state to prove its case could result in a dismissal or an acquittal.
A drug manufacturing conviction could impact every aspect of your life for many years. Protect your future by working with an experienced defense attorney.
You should not have to pay for a mistake forever. Contact Grand Canyon Law Group and speak with a Tolleson drug manufacturing lawyer immediately after your arrest.