Legal Question in Criminal Law in Maryland

marijuana possesion

I was driving 2 days ago and I got pulled over b/c my car expiration tags from the back had fallen off with out me knowing it at the car wash recently. When they pulled me over they asked me if I had drank and I told them the truth that I had one glass of wine with my father for lunch, they gave me a breathalyzer test and I passed then they asked me to step out of the car and to search my purse, when they searched my purse they found an empty ziplock bag that had soem pot but it had finished and some had fell in my purse...so they arrested me and took me to jail for hours..then they towed my car and when they let me go from jail they said that I have my preliminary court case for which I dont need a lawyer which I dont belive next week, and that I have a charge of $25,000.00 and 4 years jail time..this sounds rediculous to me I didnt have anything on me just a couple of left overs that had fallen from the zip lock bag into my purse...the officer asked me if the address on my drivers liscence was up to date and I told him no cause I recently sold my house and he said: ''oh so you have money huh'', I am a single parent without a job at the moment and I sold my house to pay off my debths and I need to file for bankruptcy.please help me


Asked on 4/16/06, 9:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Richard S. Stolker Uptown Law, LLC

Re: marijuana possesion

Your recent experience certainly was an unlucky one, but there is a way out of the problems. Although the potential sentence for possession of a Schedule I drug such as marijuana (including even trace quantities) is a harsh one, if you do not have a prior criminal record it is likely that you will not receive a long prison term, and it�s even possible that you could receive probation along with a fine and an NA (Narcotics Anonymous) course.

While I don�t know the specifics of your situation, bankruptcy is a very serious step and not always the best way to resolve financial problems. You would benefit from a session with an attorney experienced in criminal defense and bankruptcy. (Since the bankruptcy laws were overhauled six months ago, it is important that you confer with an attorney with experience under the �new� law.)

Our office provides an initial financial counseling session at no charge, so you are welcome to phone if you would like to schedule a conference here at our Rockville office. In any case, I hope you will have the benefit of counsel to work your way out of what must have been one of the worst days of your life.

Richard S. Stolker,

Uptown Law, LLC,

110 N. Washington Street,

Rockville, Maryland 20850,

301.294.9500

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Answered on 4/17/06, 10:16 am


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