Drug crimes carry serious penalties, depending on the nature of the crime. Many people wonder whether there’s a difference between dealing drugs and holding drugs under Texas law. While there’s no specific “drug dealing” law in Texas, there are drug charges that vary depending on the type of drug and the amount possessed.

When you’re held on drug-related charges in Texas, you’ll need bail bonds service. Read on to learn more about drug-related crimes, then call Brazoria County Bail Bonds for assistance.

Drug crimes in Texas

What laypeople might think of as “drug dealing” usually falls under one of the following crimes:

• Drug manufacturing: Drug manufacturing is the crime of growing or otherwise creating illegal drugs for sale, such as methamphetamines. Some defenses to this crime include that the grower/creator didn’t know they were growing drugs, they had no intent to deliver or the drug was not intended for human consumption. Depending on the type and quantity of the drug, violators could be sentenced to life in prison and fines of $250,000.
• Drug trafficking: Drug trafficking is the crime of making, possessing or growing large quantities of drugs with the intent to sell them to others. This particular law requires the prosecution to prove that the defendant possessed large quantities of illegal drugs. This is a larger amount of drugs than mere possession or drug manufacturing charges—thousands of pounds of marijuana or hundreds of grams of cocaine, for example. Sentencing tops out at life in prison and $250,000 fines.
• Drug possession with intent to sell or distribute: This charge is a lesser version of the previous two, but the prosecution still has to prove that the defendant intended to sell. This can be proven by the quantity of drugs, how they were packaged and whether there were other telling factors, such as evidence of a lab or large amounts of money. Fines and jail time depend on the type of drug and quantity.

Bail bonds and drug-related charges in Texas

If you’re arrested and accused of one of these drug-related crimes, make sure to call an attorney right away. Should you be given the opportunity to post bail, the amount will vary depending on a number of factors. These include the specific charges, your age, whether you have any current charges, your criminal history, whether you’re considered a flight risk, whether you have a history of not appearing in court, your perceived threat to society and record of substance abuse or causing harm to yourself.

Once you know the bail amount, working with a bail bonds agent can help you await trial at home. A loved one can offer cash or collateral in exchange for your release, but it’s very important that you attend all court dates and comply with any rules or guidelines the court puts in place.

If you’ve been charged with a drug-related crime in Texas and need bail bonds, reach out to the experts at Brazoria County Bail Bonds for assistance today. We look forward to helping you navigate through this challenging time.