Drug Sharing and Distribution Charges

 Posted on July 09, 2024 in Drug Crimes

You were spending time with a few friends and contributed drugs to the gathering. Maybe you and your friends wanted to try psychedelic mushrooms together, and you were the one who happened to know a dealer who could sell you some. Or perhaps you had the opportunity to pick up some MDMA for the first time since college and wanted to share. Something went wrong that night, and you got arrested. You appear in court the next morning, expecting to be charged with simple possession or maybe some form of public intoxication, depending on what happened. You are shocked when the judge tells you that you have been charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance. The first thing you should do is contact a Cook County, IL drug crimes attorney.

What Delivery of a Controlled Substance Means 

This felony offense is extremely literal. Although most people would think that those charged with drug distribution are drug dealers - people who habitually sell illicit substances to others for profit - the legal definition is not so limited. In Illinois, you can be charged with delivery of a controlled substance for providing any controlled substance to another person, whether or not money is exchanged. That means even giving a friend a single dose of an illicit or controlled substance can get you charged with distribution.

People have been convicted of delivery of a controlled substance for:

• Sharing a prescription medication - Giving a family member one of your prescription pain pills or sharing the codeine you were prescribed with a friend is considered delivery, even if the other person had the same prescription or had a legitimate medical reason for needing the drug. It is also increasingly common for one person to seek out a prescription on behalf of another person who does not have health insurance, but this can be risky.
• Making a group purchase - If you and three friends all want to try LSD one night, it might seem less risky for one person to go and purchase three doses instead of having all three of you visit a dealer separately. However, the person who is tasked with picking up the drug and bringing it to your gathering can be charged with delivery. 
• Facilitating a sale - Acting as a middleman between a drug dealer who trusts you and the person who wants the drugs is considered delivery. 

Contact a Cook County, IL Delivery of a Controlled Substance Lawyer 

Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law may be able to get your delivery charges reduced through plea bargaining or may be able to identify a winning legal defense in your case. Experienced Rolling Meadows, IL drug crimes attorney Scott Anderson has over 25 years of experience in criminal defense. Contact us at 847-253-3400 for a free consultation.