SNF0007

Hey everyone, im new to the board and ive got some questions here for anyone who may know something about getting charged with posession in Alberta. I was pulled over on the wkd and the cops found less than a gram of weed and my pipe. I know the decrim law hasnt gone through yet and im wondering what kind of a fine im gonna be looking at? I dont have a criminal record and the weed wasnt mine but im not looking to go to trial, just to get this over with. Will i get a criminal record if i plead guilty? and will this mean i cant go to the states? Also when (and if) the decrim law passes will my record be erased? thanks in advance

snuff

Cassius

Hiring a lawyer or asking your public defender would be the best bet. I'd give you what advice I could, except that (1) I'm not a lawyer and (2) I live in the US not Canada. But I feel for ya bro, getting busted sucks.

Teacher

Hi,

Funny, I'm in the same boat. They only got a tiny bit of weed. (About a gram). No pipe, papers or anything else. But, I got charged with driving under the influence of a drug. My career is on the line, along with my driver's licence.

Get a lawyer. They may be able to help you find some kind of loophole. Whatever you do, don't plead guilty, particularly when the laws are so questionable right now.

Good luck to you.

SNF0007

thanks for the support

ya i was reading your story a few days ago...dam you really got it harsh. DUI?!?! you've gotta be kidding me

like you, my career is on the line here too...fu*kin small towns, here in calgary there's no way in hell a cop would waste their time with petty sh*t like that. Here, for a small amount like we had, they would make you pour it into a storm drain and tell you to stay out of trouble.

And ya ive talked to a lawyer...$2000-$4000 just to show up and cut a deal for me...what a joke. I had a buddy who had the same thing happen to him, he just showed up in court without a lawyer, plead not guilty, sweet-talked the judge for a few minutes and got an absolute discharge. Im gonna try the same, hopefully get a decent judge and maybe get the charges reduced and if not ill have to pony up for a lawyer.

I wish you the best with your case

cheers

Teacher

If your career is on the line, the $2000-$4000 price range for a lawyer might not be such a big expense. A good lawyer can find loopholes that you didn't know existed.

It also depends what judge you get. Apparently, some judges are much more fair than others. Your friend probably lucked out.

According to my lawyer, it also makes a big difference what jurisdiction you were caught in. Some areas, such as Wetaskiwin are known for having hard nosed, unreasonable prosecutors, who will prosecute anything and everything presented to them, regardless of the pettiness of the charge.

If you do go it alone, make sure you do your homework! Check for precedents, search and seizure laws etc. Good Luck!

Stephanie S.

Maybe this will help. Looks like a handy little chart! Good luck.

Penalties For Criminal Code Drug Offenses in Canada


peace

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Larmer

You're getting hosed at 2-4 thousand, definitely. Unless the guy is planning on a precedent-setting argument, in which case Teacher will be somewhat pleased!

I'm not suggesting you shop around for the cheapest lawyer on the block, but you really don't need Cochrane himself to represent you on this type of charge. Hell, by the time your court date occurs, there may be more solid background on possession laws in this country.

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