A controlled substance is any substance that the legislature, either federal or state has deemed to be illegal to possess. Now, some of these substances are medications that a physician can prescribe, and in that circumstance, it's not illegal for you as the patient to have them, but others are inherently illegal, for example, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, etcetera. So the way it works is this, the feds typically don't get involved in possession of drug charges, but in the more serious distribution type charges, the feds get involved, also the state prosecutors get involved, these are serious charges often with minimum mandatory sentences, it's essential that you be represented by an experienced criminal defense attorney, if you're being accused of having possession of or distribution or trafficking in any of these drugs, the ramifications of a conviction last a lifetime.
By
Jeffrey S. Weiner, P.A.
