Marijuana Criminal Charges In Missouri

---

In Missouri, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and is still considered by Missouri law to be a Schedule I controlled substance. Therefore, there are many situations where possession of marijuana could be considered a crime, which would have serious consequences on your life.

Almost all possession charges will result in a misdemeanor charge, which can have serious implications. Even more serious felonies may accrue if the amount of marijuana is large enough to warrant a distribution or trafficking charge, or if there is notable reason to charge you for delivery.

If you’re charged with possessing marijuana, you need someone who has District Attorney drug training, who understands the law, and skilled in the courtroom.

James Krupp

Attorney James Krupp, with his 30 years of legal experience in the State of Missouri, has a proven track record of handling personal injury, business litigation, traffic cases, workers’ compensation, and criminal matters. As a St. Louis native and a dedicated attorney, James is committed to helping people in all kinds of legal situations by working closely with his clients and obtaining outstanding results. His deep understanding of Missouri law, coupled with his extensive experience in the courtroom, makes him an ideal choice for anyone facing marijuana criminal charges.

Additionally, James has hosted lawyer radio call-in programs, showcasing his knowledge and commitment to educating the public on legal matters. His strong connections within the legal community and positive testimonials from previous clients demonstrate his ability to handle a wide range of cases, from personal injury to criminal defense. When you choose Krupp Law Firm to represent you, you are choosing an attorney with a wealth of experience, well-respected within the legal community, and a passion for helping others.

Ryan Krupp

Ryan Krupp, a criminal defense attorney in St. Louis and St. Charles County, brings a unique perspective to your case as a former prosecutor for both the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. With experience in prosecuting domestic violence, assault, drug cases, and more, Ryan has the knowledge and skills needed to effectively represent clients facing marijuana criminal charges.

As an alumnus of Marquette High School, Missouri Baptist University, and UMKC School of Law, Ryan has a strong foundation in both education and local ties. His dedication to justice has earned him numerous accolades, such as being inducted into the Order of the Barristers and serving as Chair-elect for The Bar Association of Metro St. Louis (YLD). With a winning mindset, Ryan is passionate about using his background in prosecution to advocate for clients facing drug charges and ensure their rights are protected.

Furthermore, Ryan's success in the courtroom is well-documented, with numerous dismissals and favorable outcomes for his clients. His ability to scrutinize lab reports, file motions to suppress evidence, and secure favorable deals for his clients speaks to his expertise and commitment to providing the best possible defense. When you trust Krupp Law Firm to represent you in your marijuana criminal charges, you can rest assured that you will receive top-notch legal representation from a team of dedicated attorneys who understand the law and are skilled in the courtroom.

Under Missouri law, a person commits the offense of possession of a controlled substance if he or she knowingly possesses a controlled substance, except as authorized by Missouri Law.

The offense of possession of any controlled substance except thirty-five grams or less of marijuana or any synthetic cannabinoid is a class D felony.

The offense of possession of more than ten grams but thirty-five grams or less of marijuana or any synthetic cannabinoid is a class A misdemeanor.

Possession of Drug paraphernalia is one of the most common charges associated with a marijuana possession charge.

In Missouri, a person commits the offense of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia if he or she knowingly uses, or possesses with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to:

plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body, a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance in violation of the law.

The offense of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia is a class D misdemeanor, unless the person has previously been found guilty of any offense of the laws of this state related to controlled substances or of the laws of another jurisdiction related to controlled substances, in which case the violation of this law is a class A misdemeanor.

In Missouri, a person commits the offense of delivery of a controlled substance if, except as authorized in this law he or she:

Knowingly distributes or delivers a controlled substance, attempts to distribute or deliver a controlled substance, knowingly possesses a controlled substance with the intent to distribute or deliver any amount of a controlled substance; knowingly permits a minor to purchase or transport illegally obtained controlled substances.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the offense of delivery of thirty-five grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid is a class E felony.

The offense of delivery of thirty-five grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid to a person less than seventeen years of age who is at least two years younger than the defendant is a class C felony.

On January 1, 2019, a Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell was sworn in took office, immediately implementing policies regarding the prosecution of marijuana. His office shortly thereafter, announced a policy that St. Louis County would no longer prosecute possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana.

His policy was silent regarding possession of drug paraphernalia associated with marijuana or delivery, but it can be presumed that paraphernalia cases associated will less than 100 grams of marijuana will likely not be prosecuted, however the same cannot be said about delivery charges.

Also, just because St. Louis County itself issued a new policy, doesn’t mean that it will be followed by the municipalities which often times opt to prosecute the crime of possession of marijuana themselves, rather than referring it to the county attorney’s office.

Unlike St. Louis County, St. Charles County has not implemented a policy regarding the non-prosecution of marijuana charges and has a tendency to prosecute the charges to the full extent as authorized by Missouri Law.

Thus, if you receive a charge for possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia, you may be subjected to criminal penalties which carry long-term consequences and are difficult to remove from your record.

St. Louis County is unique in that it has a vast number of small municipalities which have their own courts. Most of a municipal court’s cases consist of traffic violations such as speeding tickets or other charges such as driving while revoked or suspended or even DUI/DWI misdemeanor or ordinance charges.

The municipal courts have the authority to prosecute crimes under their own city ordinance including the prosecution of marijuana charges to the full extent authorized by Missouri law.

For instance, marijuana charges in Ladue, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Chesterfield, Town and Country and other municipalities may charge you with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia as misdemeanor offenses which could have a serious impact on your life, especially if you don’t have a lawyer to help negotiate or fight your case.

St. Louis, St. Charles and other counties are putting a lot of emphasis on their drug and recovery courts. These courts are aimed at helping individuals who struggle with addiction, rather than prosecuting them. These courts are especially geared helping people with addiction problems even to substances such as marijuana.

The Krupp Law Firm has handled many cases in which someone addicted to dangerous substances benefited greatly from these drug court treatment plans and can help you decided if the program is right for your situation.

The Krupp Law Firm closely looks at the evidence against you right from the beginning with the idea that any criminal charge might go to trial. We analyze your defenses and compare them to what sort of treatment you could benefit from in a drug court or treatment plan, rather than fighting the case. If the case needs to be fought, the Krupp Law Firm has experience on both sides of these cases and has fought and won drug cases in court.