Are all drug crimes in Georgia treated the same? Not necessarily. Drug possession is different than drug manufacturing or trafficking. In addition, the type of drug at issue can dictate the seriousness of the crime.
Georgia drug schedules
Georgia law classifies drugs as falling under one of five schedules. Schedule I drug crimes are treated more severely than Schedule V drug crimes, but any drug crimes in Georgia should be treated seriously.
- Schedule I drugs: These are controlled substances that have a high potential for abuse and for which there is no acceptable medical use.
- Schedule II drugs: These are controlled substances that have a high potential for abuse, psychological dependence or physical dependence. However, unlike Schedule I drugs, Schedule II drugs do have an acceptable medical use although this use may be severely restricted under the law.
- Schedule III drugs: These are controlled substances that have a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs, a low or moderate potential for psychological dependence or physical dependence and for which there is an acceptable medical use.
- Schedule IV drugs: These are controlled substances that have a lower potential for abuse than drugs falling under one of the aforementioned schedules, a limited potential for physical or psychological dependency and for which there is an acceptable medical use.
All drug charges should be taken seriously
This is only a brief overview of drug schedules under Georgia law, and does not contain personal legal advice. Ultimately, any drug charges in Georgia should be treated seriously. The penalties for drug crimes in the state can range from community service, to hefty fines and even imprisonment. Criminal defense attorneys in the Valdosta area may be a useful resource to those facing drug charges.