What Is the Punishment for the Possession or Sale of Xanax in California?

In California, the possession or sale of Xanax, a controlled substance, is illegal without a prescription. When many people think of a “controlled substance” they envision drugs such as heroin or cocaine; however, prescription drugs are every bit as illegal when possessed or sold without a prescription in California. One drug that is commonly used both with and without a prescription is Xanax. If you are currently facing charges relating to the possession or sale of Xanax in California, you need to know about the punishment for the possession or sale of Xanax without a prescription and consult with a reputable Xanax defense attorney to start building your case.

Xanax (trade name Alprzolam) is an anti-anxiety drug that has been legally prescribed in the United States for decades. It has also become a widely used drug by those without a prescription. In the State of California the illegal possession of Xanax is typically charged as a misdemeanor. Conviction of a misdemeanor possession charge could result in up to a year in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000. If, however, you have a previous conviction for certain crimes, including specific serious felonies or sex crimes, you could face up to three years in prison for possession of Xanax.

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Possessing Xanax for sale, on the other hand, is a more serious crime and is charged as a felony in California. If convicted, you face either up to a year in the county jail and probation or two, three, or four years in prison.

If you are charged and convicted of sale or transportation of Xanax, the most serious of all Xanax related offenses, you face up to three, four, or five years in prison. If you transported the drugs across more than two county lines, however, you are looking at a potential sentence of three, six, or nine years in prison.

If you are charged with simple possession, you may be eligible for drug treatment diversion. If you successfully complete a diversion program your charges may be dismissed and your record will be clean (assuming you do not have other convictions). If you are charged with one of the more serious offenses there may be a number of defenses available to you. The key to your defense is to consult with an experienced California criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Contact Xanax defense attorney Domenic J. Lombardo by calling (619) 232-5122 to schedule your free and confidential consultation.

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Domenic Lombardo

Domenic J. Lombardo, Attorney at Law and a member of California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earning a B.A. in Economics-Business, before graduating with his J.D. from University of California, Hastings School of Law. Mr. Lombardo has been practicing as a criminal defense lawyer in San Diego for nearly 30 years, having started at the San Diego Office of the Public Defender in 1991 and then opened the Law Office of Domenic J. Lombardo in early 1996 as a sole practitioner. His practice is dedicated entirely to the defense of individuals accused of crimes and university misconduct, including Title IX allegations. While Mr. Lombardo works as the primary attorney for all his cases, he does have a team of investigators, forensic consultants, and paralegals to call on to help achieve the best possible result in every case. When he is not working, Mr. Lombardo is a family man, triathlete, and world traveler.

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