Bergen County Marijuana Defense Attorney
Team Up with a Former Prosecutor
Whether you have been charged with possession, sale, distribution, or another marijuana-related charge, talk to a Bergen County drug crime lawyer at Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC to learn your options. Our attorney is a former prosecutor who knows the inner workings of the prosecutor’s office and how they approach drug crimes. We are able to proactively build an effective case to counter their arguments. Find out how our seasoned team can fight for you.
Marijuana Penalties
In New Jersey, possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana is considered a crime.
Penalties for marijuana charges can include:
- Incarceration
- Fines
- Jail time
- Driver’s license suspension
Diversion Programs for First-Time Offenders
If you are a first-time offender, you may qualify for diversion programs that offer probation and other conditional requirements in place of jail time. Once you have completed the terms of the diversion program, you may have the charges dismissed from your record. To find out if you are eligible for a diversion program, contact our office.
Medical Marijuana Laws in New Jersey
In early 2010, outgoing governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine signed into law a bill permitting the use of medical cannabis for people with qualifying conditions.
These conditions include:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis
- HIV / AIDS
- Seizure disorder
- Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Severe muscle spasms
- Muscular dystrophy
- Crohn’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Any terminal illness
As of 2015, 5,540 patients were registered as part of the program. In 2016, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was also added to the list of conditions that qualify a person for a cannabis prescription. Also, just this year, the state Medicinal Marijuana Review Panel recommended a number of other illnesses and health statuses be added to the list of qualifying conditions, including migraines, Tourette syndrome, autism-related anxiety, chronic pain, and Alzheimer’s disease-related anxiety.
Patients who qualify can have no more than 2 ounces of dried cannabis a month, although their doctors may recommend less. There are also 5 state-licensed alternative treatment centers that sell medical marijuana to patients who have a prescription. Growing your own cannabis is still illegal.
According to the law, patients are not allowed to apply directly to the program. Instead, a physician who is treating the patient must recommend him or her for cannabis treatment. There are around 28,000 registered physicians in New Jersey, but only 517 have volunteered to enroll in the medicinal marijuana physician registry since it opened in 2012.
Smart Defense for Marijuana Charges
Our attorney starts by thoroughly evaluating the facts of your case and carefully investigating the details. We review police reports, question witnesses, and scrutinize the strength of the evidence against you. If any evidence was obtained in violation of your rights, we work to have a judge dismiss it. We are not intimidated by prosecutors and will not hesitate to push for a trial if we believe it is in your best interests. Our drug crime lawyer works diligently and intelligently to resolve your charges quickly and effectively.
Schedule a Free Consultation: (201) 488-7707
Our firm can review your case and discuss your options. Early intervention is critical in many drug charges and investigations, so contact us immediately.
Call Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC at (201) 488-7707.
We defend criminal matters in state and federal courts all across New Jersey, including Bergen County, Essex County, Passaic County, Hudson County, Union County, Morris County, Middlesex County, Hackensack, Paterson, Passaic, Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth, Morristown, Union City, Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Saddle River, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Wood-Ridge, Wyckoff and surrounding areas.
