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Understanding cocaine laws in Georgia

On Behalf of | Jun 6, 2022 | Drug Charges |

The possession, sale, and trafficking of cocaine is illegal in Georgia as it is in the rest of the U.S. In line with federal and other state laws, cocaine is treated as a much more serious drug than marijuana. For this reason, the laws regarding cocaine in Georgia are quite strict. Very severe penalties can apply.

Penalties regarding cocaine can be very severe

Being arrested on drug charges in Georgia can be a very serious offense. If you are caught with any amount of the drug, your possession will be treated as a felony. Even if this is your first offense, you can still face a prison term of up to 15 years. The time you serve may be reduced but can still be quite long.

If you are found in possession of more than 28 grams (one ounce) of cocaine, the offense will automatically be upgraded in severity to trafficking. This is due to cocaine being considered a Schedule II drug with a high potential for abuse and addiction. The amount of one ounce is assumed to show intent of selling.

The sale of cocaine is a felony that is usually punished by a term of between 5 to 30 years in prison. A first-time offender may not serve as much time but must still serve a year in prison. If you are convicted of a second offense, you may end up serving as many as 40 years in prison.

Certain factors increase the severity of your charges

It’s never a good idea to underestimate the possible severity of drug charges in Georgia. This is all the more true when it comes to cocaine. If you get caught selling it within a school zone or with a child present, the penalties will be increased. This is also very likely to be the case if a child is present with you while you are selling the drug.

The scenarios listed above can be considered aggravating factors. If you are charged with any of them, they can add a great deal of time to your sentence.

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