Alabama drug penalties depend on the substance and the quantity. Possession of marijuana under 2.2 pounds is a Class D felony — up to 5 years. Possession with intent to distribute or trafficking triggers mandatory minimums that escalate sharply with quantity. Methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl trafficking carry some of the harshest mandatory minimums in the state. A conviction is not the only outcome available. It is one possible outcome among several — and defense begins with challenging the evidence.

Most drug cases begin with a stop, a search, or a tip. Every one of those is a constitutional event. Was the traffic stop pretextual? Was the search consensual or coerced? Was the warrant supported by probable cause? Did the informant have a basis for their information? If law enforcement violated the Fourth Amendment at any point, the evidence obtained as a result may be suppressed — and without the evidence, there is no case.

Drug cases involving trafficking quantities, multiple defendants, or cross-state transportation are frequently charged federally. Federal drug prosecutions carry mandatory minimum sentences, federal sentencing guidelines, and the resources of the DEA, FBI, and U.S. Attorney's Office. Beck Defense handles federal drug cases in the Southern District of Alabama. We have taken federal drug conspiracy cases to trial — and won.

Baldwin County law enforcement runs active drug interdiction operations on I-65, Highway 98, and throughout the beach corridor. The Baldwin County Drug Task Force coordinates with state and federal agencies. If you were arrested following a traffic stop, a controlled buy, or a search warrant, the circumstances of the investigation matter enormously to your defense.

Past results in individual cases do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.