The Different Types of Charges:
Simple Drug Possession is what most people get charged with. This is when you have what looks like a personal amount of drugs. Even though it’s “just” a misdemeanor, you could still spend almost a year in jail and pay thousands in fines. Plus, you’ll lose your driver’s license automatically.
Possession with Intent to Sell is much more serious. This is a felony, and the state doesn’t need to prove you were actually selling anything. If you had what they think is “too much” for personal use, or if you had scales, baggies, or a lot of cash, they might try to say you were dealing.
The Reality Check About Consequences
Let’s be honest about what you’re facing. Even if you don’t go to jail, a drug conviction can mess up your life in ways you might not expect:
- Background checks for jobs will show this forever
- You might lose professional licenses
- College financial aid could be affected
- Your driver’s license gets suspended (yes, even for drugs that have nothing to do with driving)
- If you’re not a citizen, this could affect your immigration status
- Landlords might reject your rental applications
This is why “just pleading guilty and getting it over with” is usually a terrible idea.
What We Actually Do to Help
Every drug possession case is different, but there are common ways we can fight these charges:
Challenging the Search This is huge. Police can’t just search you, your car, or your home whenever they feel like it. If they violated your rights, we can get the evidence thrown out, which often means the whole case gets dismissed.
Questions we ask: Did they have a warrant? Was the traffic stop legal? Did they have probable cause? Did you actually consent to the search?
Proving It Wasn’t Yours Just because drugs were found in your car or your house doesn’t mean they were yours. Maybe your friend left something in your car, or maybe your roommate had a problem you didn’t know about. We work to show that you didn’t know about the drugs or that they belonged to someone else.
Lab and Evidence Problems Police and crime labs make mistakes. Sometimes the substance isn’t what they think it is, or they botched the chain of custody. We check every step to make sure they did their job right.
Negotiating Better Outcomes Sometimes the best strategy is working out a deal. Maybe we can get you into a diversion program where you complete some requirements and the charges get dismissed. Or maybe we can negotiate down to a lesser charge that won’t destroy your future.
Your Questions, Answered
What if it was just marijuana? Tennessee still treats marijuana as illegal, unlike a lot of other states. Even a small amount can get you charged. But the good news is that first-time marijuana charges are often manageable with the right argument.
The drugs were in my car, but they weren’t mine. Can I still be charged? Unfortunately, yes. Tennessee has something called “constructive possession,” which means if you had access to the area where drugs were found, they can charge you even if they weren’t physically on you. But this is exactly the kind of situation where we can fight back.
What’s the difference between having pills and dealing drugs? It often comes down to how much you had and what else was around. A few pills in a prescription bottle might be simple possession. A bunch of loose pills in baggies with cash and scales looks like dealing to prosecutors.
Can I get this off my record? Maybe. Tennessee has some programs for first-time offenders, and some charges can be expunged later. But every situation is different, and you need to handle the case right from the beginning to preserve these options.
Should I talk to the police? No. Nothing you say is going to make this better, and it can definitely make it worse. Be polite, but tell them you want to talk to a lawyer.
What Makes Us Different
We’ve been handling drug cases in Middle Tennessee for decades. We know the prosecutors, we know the court system, and we know what works. More importantly, we know this is probably one of the scariest things you’ve ever dealt with.
Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:
- We’ll explain everything in plain English, not legal jargon
- We’ll be honest about what you’re facing and what we can realistically do
- We’ll fight hard for the best possible outcome
- We’ll keep you informed every step of the way
- We’ll treat you with respect, not judgment
Don’t Wait to Get Help
Drug possession cases move fast, and evidence can disappear. The sooner we get involved, the better we can protect you. Don’t try to handle this alone, and definitely don’t just plead guilty without understanding your options.
If you’re facing drug possession charges anywhere in Middle Tennessee, call Kane & Crowell PLLC today at (615) 784-4800 for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll listen to your situation and help you figure out the best path forward.
Remember: one mistake doesn’t have to define your future. Let us help you fight for it.
