Drug Crimes
Michigan drug offenses run from simple possession under MCL 333.7403 to delivery and manufacturing under MCL 333.7401. We begin by examining the stop, the search, and the seizure that produced the evidence, because how the evidence was obtained often shapes the rest of the case.
How Michigan charges drug offenses.
Michigan drug laws operate under a tiered system where the schedule of the substance, the weight involved, and the alleged conduct determine the severity. Schedule 1 and 2 controlled substances (heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine) carry the harshest penalties; marijuana violations carry the lightest. The difference between possession and delivery can be the difference between a 4-year felony under MCL 333.7403(2)(a) and a 20-year felony under MCL 333.7401(2)(a) — and those lines are often blurrier than the charging documents suggest.
The Fourth Amendment is central to most drug cases. If law enforcement violated your constitutional rights during a stop, search, or seizure, the evidence they found may be suppressed. Without that evidence, the case often cannot proceed.
Charges We Defend
- —Possession (any schedule)
- —Possession with intent to deliver
- —Delivery / distribution
- —Manufacturing / cultivation
- —Drug trafficking
- —Drug conspiracy charges
- —Prescription fraud
Penalties and Consequences
- 01Life or any term of years for delivery or manufacture of 1,000+ grams, MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(i)
- 02Fines reaching $1,000,000 at the highest weight tier
- 03Asset forfeiture and property seizure
- 04A felony conviction on your record
- 05Barriers to employment and professional licensing
- 06Immigration consequences for non-citizens
- 07Probation conditions including testing and treatment
What the statute allows.
| Offense | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|
| Marijuana possession — Personal use, age 21+ | Legal up to 2.5 oz under the MRTMA; amounts outside MRTMA limits are charged under the Public Health Code |
| Possession — narcotics / cocaine under 50g — MCL 333.7403(2)(a) | Up to 4 years / $25,000 |
| Possession — narcotics / cocaine 50–449g — MCL 333.7403(2)(a) | Up to 20 years / $250,000 |
| Delivery / PWID — narcotics under 50g — MCL 333.7401(2)(a) | Up to 20 years / $25,000 |
| Manufacture or delivery — methamphetamine, ecstasy, GHB — MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(i) | Up to 20 years / $25,000 |
| Delivery / manufacture — 1,000+ grams — MCL 333.7401(2)(a)(i) | Life or any term of years / $1,000,000 |
Penalties vary with the substance, quantity, and prior record. Under MCL 333.7413, a court may impose up to twice the term otherwise authorized for a qualifying repeat offense — it is an enhancement the court may impose, not a separate mandatory tier. This table is a general summary, not legal advice about your case.
What a drug defense examines.
Search and Seizure Review
We scrutinize every police report, body camera, and warrant application. Unlawful stops, pretextual searches, and warrant defects can support suppression of the core evidence in a drug case.
Lab & Chain of Custody
Drug identification must be confirmed by certified lab analysis. We demand full documentation and examine improper handling, contamination, or identification errors.
Constructive Possession
Proximity to drugs does not equal possession. When drugs are found in a shared space, car, or residence, we examine whether our client actually exercised control — or even knew they were there.
Entrapment & Informants
Undercover operations and paid informants raise entrapment defenses and credibility issues. We investigate informant agreements and discover what inducements the government offered.
Drug charge questions answered.
Can drug charges be dismissed if the search was illegal?
What is the difference between possession and possession with intent?
Does Michigan have drug court or diversion programs?
Speak with an Ann Arbor drug crime lawyer.
Early involvement lets us examine the stop, the search, and the lab work while every option is still open.