Edina Drug Crime Lawyer

Edina Drug Crime Attorney

Facing drug charges in Edina or anywhere in the Twin Cities can drastically affect your future. This can bring criminal as well as personal consequences. This means you need an attorney with extensive knowledge of Minnesota and federal drug crimes and a clear understanding of how Twin Cities prosecutors work. Former Minnesota prosecutor Ronnie Santana is your Edina drug crime lawyer and fights for you with unique experience on both sides of the aisle.

About Us

Ronnie Santana is a founding attorney who previously served as a Minnesota prosecutor. His experience as a prosecutor in Dakota and Ramsey Counties has given him insight into how the other side of the fence works. He knows how prosecutors plan their strategies and where they are most likely to fail.

Ronnie Santana now dedicates his time to defending those charged with crimes and works one-on-one with every client, in Edina, Bloomington, and throughout the Twin Cities, to protect their rights and challenge the prosecution’s evidence.

Understanding Drug Crime Laws and Schedules

Drug crimes are illegal acts involving controlled substances and are legislated in both federal law and Minnesota law. Drugs are categorized in schedules based on the drug’s medical use, potential for abuse, and safety.

In federal law, Schedule I drugs (examples include heroin or LSD) are those with no currently accepted medical use; those in Schedules II through V may have medical uses but are highly regulated. Any possession, sale, or manufacturing of drugs beyond the accepted legal framework constitutes a criminal act.

Types of Drug Offenses

The Minnesota rate of drug-related crime is 3.294 per 1,000 population in an average year. When it comes to feeling safe from drug-related crime, Minnesota’s residents say the safest part of the state is in the north. Your risk of becoming a victim of drug-related crime in Minnesota ranges from 1 in 248 in the eastern part of the state to 1 in 388 in the northern part. Drug crimes typically fall into one of three main categories. These include:

• Drug possession. This includes having a controlled substance on hand without a legitimate prescription or permission. In Minnesota, possession of many controlled substances is punishable by a fifth-degree drug offense.
• Distribution and Trafficking. When the quantity, packaging, or other proof indicates that you intended to sell or distribute, it is considered possession with intent, distribution, or trafficking. Many of these are covered by Minnesota’s first-degree or second-degree sales laws.
• Drug conspiracy. Manufacturing, growing, importing, or smuggling illegal drugs across state or national borders are all considered forms of conspiracy.

Prosecutors frequently combine charges of possession with intent to distribute and charge individuals with constructive possession when they had access to drugs, even if they weren’t found in their possession.

Defenses in Drug Crime Cases

When you hire a drug crime lawyer, they typically look at the facts of your case to build an appropriate defense. There are a few defenses that are used in drug crime cases, and lawyers use them based on what is most appropriate for your circumstances. Some of these defenses include:

• Lack of intent. It is possible to refute accusations of possession or distribution by claiming that you were unaware of the drugs’ presence or that you had no control over them.
• Illegal search and seizure. Evidence may be suppressed if law enforcement violated the Fourth Amendment by conducting an illegal search without a warrant or with insufficient probable cause.
• Lack of evidence. The prosecution must show evidence that you possessed and had the intent to sell or distribute.
• Coercion. This defense is used when law enforcement forces you to do something you wouldn’t have done otherwise.

An Edina drug crime attorney can help you build a defense that most appropriately and accurately suits your case and circumstances and minimize your drug crime penalties.

Hire a Drug Crime Lawyer

If your arrest occurred after a traffic stop on Highway 169, in a Bloomington apartment complex, or during an alleged sale in an Edina neighborhood, we understand how Hennepin County, Dakota County, and Ramsey County prosecutors think and can use that understanding to build your defense. Ronnie has experience defending clients throughout the Twin Cities.

FAQs

What Is the New Drug Law in Minnesota?

Minnesotans now have broad legal protections regarding drug paraphernalia after a bill was passed legalizing the possession of any related items. The law decriminalized syringes, or any other drug paraphernalia, from having a criminal penalty attached to them. State legislators have also recently made regulatory changes on hemp-derived THC and adult-use cannabis under Minnesota’s drug policy.

What Is First Degree Drug Possession in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, first-degree drug possession is charged when a person has illegally very large amounts of controlled substances or has committed the crime with other factors that aggravate the crime, like possession of firearms. A conviction for first-degree drug possession is punishable by up to 30 years in jail and very high fines.

How Long Do You Go to Jail for Drug Possession in Minnesota?

How long a person can go to jail for a drug crime varies by the degree of the crime, the type and amount of the drug, and the person’s criminal history. Possession in the first degree has the highest maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison. The lower degrees have lower maximum penalties. Each case is different.

What Is the Most Abused Drug in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, marijuana continues to be the most prevalent drug among treatment admissions. In addition, opioid-involved fatal overdoses (particularly fentanyl) represent a significant proportion of drug-related fatalities, reflecting a severe abuse issue in that category. Drugs are categorized by Schedules based on their potential for abuse and accepted medical use.

Contact Santana Law, PLLC, Today

If you have been charged with a drug crime in Edina, Bloomington, or the Twin Cities area, you are not alone. Ronnie Santana serves as your dedicated Edina drug crime lawyer. Ronnie is an advocate who is familiar with Minnesota drug laws and knows how the prosecution will work to get a conviction. He can guide you through all of your options, including suppression of evidence, negotiation of a plea bargain, and even dismissal of the charge.

Contact Santana Law, PLLC, today. We speak Spanish, and we can help you fight for your rights and your future.