Albuquerque Drug Crime Lawyers

Learn About Drug Offenses in New Mexico

The state of New Mexico uses federal law to classify illegal drugs. According to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, drugs are classified by schedules on a scale of 1 to 5 based on the potential for abuse and medical usefulness. Those that have a high potential for abuse and little medical benefit will be rated closer to one, while drugs with low potential for abuse and much medical usefulness are rated closer to five.

Penalties for a drug-related offense are based on the type of drug, the amount recovered, and the purpose the drug served. If you are caught with any drug, regardless of schedule, you may have heavy fines, restitution, probation and jail time. There is also a chance that your charges may be escalated to a federal level, which would bring incarceration in a federal prison upon conviction. It is absolutely imperative that you contact an Albuquerque criminal attorney from The Romero Law Firm, P.A. today if you have been arrested or you are under investigation for a drug crime.

Why did I get arrested for a drug crime?

In order for an arresting officer to place you in their custody, there must be significant evidence or reason for them to believe you are under the influence of the drug or the drug must be found on an article of your clothing, in your property or within your immediate reach.

Drug crimes range from misdemeanors to felonies and can include possession of an illegal substance, manufacturing of a drug, drug use, trafficking and distribution. If you are found operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, you may be arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI). You have rights, and it is important that you work with an Albuquerque drug crime attorney at The Romero Law Firm, P.A. immediately.

Types of Controlled Substances

The following is a list of the common drugs that fall under each schedule:

Schedule I: These have a high risk for abuse, a high risk of danger, and no medical use.

• GHB
• Heroin
• LSD
• Marijuana
• MDMA

Schedule II: These have a high abuse and dependency risk, and some medical usefulness.

• Cocaine
• Opium
• Meth
• Oxycodone
• Morphine

Schedule III: These have a lower abuse risk, moderate dependency risk, and some medical usefulness.

• Steroids
• Ketamine
• Hydrocodone/Codeine
• Barbiturates (Slow-acting)

Schedule IV & V: These have a low abuse and dependency risk, but a high medical usefulness.

• Benzodiazepines
• Barbiturates (Long-acting)
• Provigil
• Cough syrup with codeine
• Pyrovalerone

Need an attorney for a drug offense in Albuquerque?

When you hire The Romero Law Firm, P.A., we will fully investigate your case and all the circumstances leading up to your arrest to ensure we build the strongest defense possible. At our firm, we will look at the constitutionality of your arrest, question police statements and work toward bringing a strong defense against you. Our attorneys work to guide you through the entire legal process and we will begin preparing your case for trial from day one.

If drugs were found in your car or house, that does not make you guilty. You are innocent until proven guilty and sometimes evidence against someone is not what it seems. Regardless of what the prosecution has against you, we can help you fight for your innocence and rights at all costs! If you are under investigation or have questions about how our team can help you, contact The Romero Law Firm, P.A. today to schedule your free case evaluation!