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Possession of Marijuana

Austin Marijuana Possession Defense Attorney

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A conviction for marijuana possession in Texas can result in a jail or prison sentence, a fine, and a criminal record that can make getting a job, find a place to live, or living a normal life difficult. Therefore, having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side is the best way to help you avoid serious criminal penalties.

If you or a loved one are facing marijuana possession charges in Travis County or Central Texas, The Law Office of Will Mitchell has more than 18 years of experience handling a variety of drug possession charges. Our Austin marijuana possession defense lawyer can thoroughly review your case, figure out all your legal options, and provide an effective and personalized defense strategy to help you avoid conviction or serving time behind bars.

To schedule a free consultation, contact us today at (512) 858-8611

Marijuana Possession Laws in Texas

Possession of Marijuana (POM) charges in Austin, and all over Texas, are one of the most common cases (behind only Driving While License Invalid) that Attorney Will Mitchell sees as a criminal defense lawyer. Like controlled substances, POM penalties range according to the weight found. Felony possession occurs at a weight greater than 4 ounces. Anything under that, the POM is a misdemeanor.

In Austin, it is common for the police to issue “cite and release” notices for misdemeanor level POMs. A “cite and release” notice allows the person to avoid arrest and report to a Judge at a scheduled date and time to go through booking process, bond out, and receive an actual court date all within a few hours, rather than spend a night in jail.

This is a discretionary policy and is not required. Many people receive these “cite and release” and ignore the court date information or simply don’t follow the instructions. It is not a ticket you can just call and pay if you don’t make it to the court date. You must report in person on or before the date on the notice.

What makes this confusing is the notice itself looks exactly like a speeding ticket or any other citation you receive. It is carbon copied, thin paper, and displays all the pertinent information in the same form and fashion.

If a person does not follow the instructions on the notice, an arrest warrant is immediately issued, and he or she will be arrested and go through the entire bond process as if they had been arrested on the spot at time the notice issued. Once you have completed the cite and release portion, you receive a court date in county court.

How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

As with any criminal charge, you should hire a knowledgeable criminal lawyer to represent you if you receive a “cite and release” or are arrested for POM. Simply because you were not arrested at the scene, it does not mean it is not serious with no collateral consequences. POM convictions carry driver’s license suspensions, and student loan issues.

You should never consent to the search of your home, person, or vehicle. If an officer has probable cause to search you or your home, then they can get a warrant. If police want to search your vehicle, they must have probable cause, and APD has a policy requiring their officer to receive written consent if no probable cause to search.

Don’t sign anything unless it’s a notice to appear. Please fill out the contact form if you or someone you know is in one of these situations and needs to speak with a lawyer.

Call us today at (512) 858-8611 to learn how we can fight for you. 

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  • "Will has saved my life!"
    Will has saved my life! I was moving to Virginia on a probation transfer to be with my fiancé and because of Will I was able to make it happen, he responded to all my calls when I was freaking out and assured me exactly what he could do which made me calm plus he did exactly what he said he would, you don’t understand how much I appreciate you, Will!
    Haden H.
  • "Because of his true compassion and integrity I would recommend this expert lawyer to anybody!!"
    Will Mitchell was very genuine when working my case. He went above and beyond to make sure I was treated fairly. He makes great effort to ease your mind by getting to the point. He gives a full run down of all possibilities and how he plans to help your situation. I always felt Will was on my side which provided great comfort. I never felt out of the loop or left wondering. Will Mitchell is a very grounded person with intellect and great understanding of both people and the judicial system. Because of his true compassion and integrity I would recommend this expert lawyer to anybody!!
    Stephanie
  • "I was amazed by his expertise and felt completely confident with his handling of my case."
    Will handled my case in a very timely, professional manner. He worked with me financially, and helped get me through a very stressful situation. I was amazed by his expertise and felt completely confident with his handling of my case. I would recommend him to anyone I know.
    Jennifer S.
  • "Working with you made the process go smoothly."
    It was a long, long road, but working with you made the process go smoothly. You and Olivia really helped to reduce the stress around having to deal with an event like this.
    P.O.
  • "He’s amazing, choose him."
    Will was the BEST choice that I could’ve made after my DWI. I was so scared, it was my first arrest and I felt extremely overwhelmed when it came to finding a lawyer. I met with large corporations thinking maybe with the resources they would be a better option. At the end of every conversation, I felt that Will had my best interest and was very honest. He is also a very friendly guy, I never felt judged, I was more of his friend. At the end of the day, all the warm feels are nice. But, he also got my case COMPLETELY dropped. No probation & no travel restrictions. He changed my life in a way that no Google review can capture. He’s amazing, choose him.
    Alissa H.
  • "I would highly recommend Will as he will fight for you."
    Will got my DWI charge dismissed in lieu of a reduced charge of obstruction of highway passage. I did test over .08 so I chose not to go to trial but there were a few other factors with my case compelling the prosecution to lower my penalties and probation to 15mo; at which time my obstruction charge will also be dismissed. I was able to take care of all my classes, evals, and community service prior to ever seeing the judge so I think that helped my case. Will and Olivia were eager to help me understand what was happening and answered all my calls and emails very promptly. I would highly recommend Will as he will fight for you.
    Todd
  • "Will Mitchell isn't just a great attorney, he's a great guy."

    Will Mitchell isn't just a great attorney, he's a great guy. He got the case flat-out dismissed. He gave my life back to me. When I had an urgent matter come up, he called me back after-hours on a Sunday. He's just that type of guy. You can trust Will with your life, he's just that type of guy. On top of everything, he didn't break the bank. 10/10 Would recommend to anyone that's in a jam and needs a legal Superman to come to the rescue!

    Matthew B.
  • "When Will says he can handle a case, he means it."

    Mr. Mitchell is an intelligent, qualified, and effective person to have represent you. When Will says he can handle a case, he means it. Always a straight shooter, I felt I was in good hands and would recommend his law office to anyone in need.

    Jon N.