Legal Question in Criminal Law in Georgia

Re: marijuana

If this is your first offense, a misdemeanor marijuana charge is eligible for pre-trial diversion, which usually requires you to do some community service, take a drug and alcohol evaluation, and take some sort of drug/alcohol awareness class. Once the conditions are met, the charges will be dismissed and the arrest can be expunged from your record.

Because Cherokee County is ultra-conservative and pretty strict, pre-trial diversion may be difficult to work out. Another option is a conditional discharge plea, which is provided for in the Georgia Code. Here, you enter a plea, get placed on a period of probation, have community service, drug/alcohol evaluation and awareness class. Once the probationary period and conditions are met without further incident, adjudication is withheld and there is no actual conviction.