Michigan Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys

Defending clients against drug possession, distribution, and trafficking charges for over 25+ years.

Michigan Drug Classification and Penalties

Specific Drug Crimes We Defend

Cocaine Charges

Possession of cocaine is a felony, and the state of Michigan aggressively prosecutes cocaine charges. According to the DEA, cocaine is a Schedule II drug, meaning that it’s considered to be dangerous and has a high risk of abuse. Schedule II drugs are also identified as having a high potential for severe physical or psychological dependence.

Possession of cocaine is determined by whether or not you have control over the drug. This means that you can be charged with possession even when the drug is not physically on your person. For example, if it’s found in your home, car, or office, you potentially could be charged with possession.

Penalties for cocaine possession in Michigan:

• Possession of fewer than 50 grams: Imprisonment up to four years and/or a $25,000 fine
• Possession of 50 to 449 grams: Imprisonment up to 20 years and/or $250,000 fine
• Possession of 450 to 999 grams: Imprisonment up to 30 years and/or $500,000 fine
• Possession of 1,000 grams or more: Life imprisonment and/or $1,000,000 fine

Delivery of Cocaine

If you’re charged with delivery of a controlled substance in Michigan, such as cocaine, you’ll be facing a felony charge according to Michigan law. The penalties are very severe. Common delivery of cocaine charges and penalties include:

• Delivery of less than 50 grams of cocaine is a 20-year felony with a fine of up to $25,000.
• Delivery of between 50–450 grams of cocaine is a 20-year felony with a fine of up to $250,000.
• Delivery of between 450–1000 grams of cocaine is a 30-year felony with a fine of up to $500,000.
• Delivery of more than 1,000 grams of cocaine is a possible life sentence felony with a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Heroin Charges

If you’ve been arrested for the illegal use or possession of heroin, or other heroin charges such as distribution or manufacturing, you need experienced legal representation. As a Schedule I drug, heroin charges are prosecuted aggressively.

As an opiate, heroin is considered to be especially dangerous. The overdose risk is extremely high, and the potential for addiction is equally severe. It’s also believed to have no medical use. For these reasons, heroin has been classified as a Schedule I drug, along with LSD, marijuana, ecstasy, and peyote.

Heroin-related offenses that can result in fines and/or prison time include:

• Using heroin
• Failing a drug test
• Possession of heroin
• Selling or manufacturing heroin
• Distributing or trafficking heroin
• Selling heroin to a minor or near school property

Heroin Trafficking and Distribution

A conviction for heroin trafficking involving:

• 100+ grams carries a mandatory 5-year prison sentence
• 1,000+ grams carries a 10-year minimum sentence

Ecstasy Charges

Known mostly as a party drug, many people are unaware that ecstasy is a Schedule I drug. In Michigan, prosecutors prosecute ecstasy charges very aggressively, and there are very severe penalties associated with a conviction.

While ecstasy is designed to create a sense of euphoria, some dangerous side effects include:

• Body temperature regulation issues
• High blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Panic attacks
• Memory loss
• Depression
• Psychosis
• Seizures

Trafficking Ecstasy and Distribution

Trafficking ecstasy and distribution conspiracies are aggressively investigated and prosecuted in federal court. The active ingredient is MDMA but other drugs are often sold under the same name including BZP, MDA, and MDEA.

BZP is a substance that’s often used in ecstasy as a substitute for MDMA. BZP is legal in Canada, therefore, it’s more frequently found in the Eastern District of Michigan. The substance is unlawful under federal law but isn’t as heavily penalized. The penalty for 500 pills of BZP is the equivalent of 100 pills of MDMA (21 months – base offense level 16).

Methamphetamine Charges

Methamphetamine (crystal meth) is a Schedule II stimulant associated with severe health risks and high addiction potential. Charges involving meth can trigger prison time, asset forfeiture, and possible loss of parental rights if CPS is involved. Its popularity has increased due to its low cost and intense high, and much of the meth in Michigan comes from out-of-state trafficking routes. Prosecutors are aggressive, and judges often impose harsh penalties to curb its spread.

Common drug crimes associated with meth include:

• Use of methamphetamine
• Trafficking of methamphetamine
• Possession of methamphetamine
• Intent to manufacture methamphetamine
• Manufacturing and maintaining a meth lab
• Distribution and selling of methamphetamine

Methamphetamine Trafficking and Distribution

Crystal meth is a synthetic stimulant drug that has been steadily growing in popularity across Meth trafficking is the second most common federal drug offense, behind only cocaine. Most cases involve 5–10 pounds of meth and are investigated by the DEA, FBI, or Border Patrol. Possession of 5+ grams of pure meth or 50+ grams of a meth mixture carries a mandatory 5-year prison sentence.

The average sentence for federal meth trafficking is about 8 years. Because meth is often part of larger conspiracy cases, federal prosecutors will aggressively pursue all involved parties—making experienced legal defense critical.

Prescription Drug Charges

Possessing prescription medication without a valid prescription in your name can lead to felony charges—especially if the drug is a Schedule I or II controlled substance. Common examples include OxyContin, Dilaudid, Vicodin, and Demerol.

If you’re unable to prove legal possession during a traffic stop or arrest, you could face serious criminal penalties, even for small amounts. Convictions often include steep fines, jail time, and a permanent criminal record. These cases demand swift action from an experienced Michigan drug crimes attorney to protect your rights and explain your medical circumstances if relevant.

Some of the penalties upon conviction include:

• 4-year felony for possession of fewer than 50 grams
• 20-year felony for possession of 50 – 450 grams
• 30-year felony for possession of 450 – 1000 grams
• Life-sentence felony for possession of 1,000 grams or more

In addition to possession, you might also be dealing with other prescription pill charges, such as fraudulently obtaining a prescription, falsified prescriptions, selling prescription drugs, or the distribution of prescription drugs.

Prescription Pills Trafficking and Distribution

Prescription drug diversion—when legally obtained medication is resold or given to others—is prosecuted harshly in federal court. Defendants often include doctors, pharmacists, clinic employees, and patients caught participating in illegal prescription sales. Investigations led by the DEA or FBI often rely on informants, surveillance, and prescription tracking through Michigan’s MAPS database. Agents look for patterns like overprescribing, pharmacy hopping, and high-volume dispensing to build cases.

These patterns include:

• Multiple patients receiving the same combination of controlled substances
• The use of multiple pharmacies by patients to fill prescriptions
• Individuals traveling outside the area in which they live to fill prescriptions
• Excessive numbers of identical prescriptions in different names prescribed by the same doctor and filled by the same pharmacy
• Patients obtaining excessive amounts of controlled substances over an extended period of time
• Patients obtaining similar prescriptions from multiple doctors
• Patients receiving the maximum dosage for a narcotic or other controlled substance with no titration or “ramp up” or trial period
• Patients receiving multiple prescriptions simultaneously for different opiate-based narcotics or other substances with a known street value
• Patients involved in drug distribution conspiracies obtaining medications from specific doctors
• Doctors changing their prescribing habits in line with current street desire or highest street value of certain controlled substances

Federal law enforcement can easily receive this data through MAPS – Michigan Automated Prescription System. MAPS records all the information regarding all prescriptions filled in Michigan, including the doctor information, assigned DEA number, pharmacy, all patient information, drug, dosage, date filled, quantity, and refills.

Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking in Michigan includes the manufacture, distribution, and sale of controlled substances and is considered a felony offense. Penalties depend on the type and quantity of the drug, with Schedules I and II carrying up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000 or more. Prosecutors often attempt to categorize drugs in a higher schedule than appropriate, which can increase sentencing. As a skilled Michigan drug trafficking attorney, we will scrutinize these classifications and ensure your charges are accurate and legally defensible

Drugs are categorized by their potential for abuse:

• Schedule I: LSD, ecstasy, heroin, GHB, hallucinogenic mushrooms
• Schedule II: Cocaine, opium, morphine, OxyContin, Adderall, hydrocodone
• Schedule III: Anabolic steroids, Vicodin, Tylenol, codeine
• Schedule IV: Valium, Rohypnol, soma, Ambien, Xanax
• Schedule V: Ephedrine and codeine, such as those found in cold medicine and cough syrups

If your charges include drug trafficking, these charges are much more severe than just possession. A drug trafficking lawyer who has plenty of experience with drug trafficking cases in their portfolio will be advantageous to you in court as a prosecutor will use every detail they can come up with to prove that you had the intent to sell the substances.

MCL 333.7411 Deferral Program

MCL 333.7411, commonly known as a 7411 deferral, allows first-time drug possession offenders to avoid a criminal record. Defendants who plead guilty can have their case dismissed after completing probation, with no public record of the conviction.

Probation terms vary based on the judge but may include drug testing, monthly reporting, or even non-reporting. Our attorneys have successfully negotiated reduced probation terms for eligible clients. This option avoids license suspension and eliminates the need for future expungement.

Benefits of a 7411 deferral include:

• Your entire case will be dismissed.
• There will be no public record of your case.
• You can avoid the mandatory one-year license suspension that comes with all drug possession convictions.
• Since the charge never goes on your record, you won’t have to go through an expensive and tedious expungement process to try and get it removed later.

It’s important to know that a 7411 deferral cannot be used in delivery, manufacturing, or intent to sell drug convictions.

Request Your Free Consultation Today