Strong Defense Against Texas Drug Charges

Texas is among the strictest states when it comes to drug crime conviction penalties. While some drug crimes are more severe than others and different types of drugs carry different penalties for the various crimes, you should know that all these crimes are serious. If you have been charged with any type of drug crime in Texas, you should hire an attorney you can trust to defend you aggressively and effectively.

At Sylestine Law PLLC, I provide strong criminal defense against all types of drug crimes in Austin and the surrounding Texas areas. I am attorney Jeremy Sylestine, and with more than 15 years of experience working on the other side as a prosecutor, I know how the police and prosecutors handle these cases. I know the other side’s tactics, and I know how to beat them. I am a trusted advocate for my clients.

Criminal Drug Crime Penalties In Texas, Generally

Without going into great detail, the Texas Controlled Substances Act of 1973 regulates most drug crimes and penalties. Under this statutory framework, there are four categories of dangerous controlled substances, with charges ranging from minor misdemeanors to extremely serious felonies, depending on the class of the drug, the amount involved and the specific crime.

Category 1 contains the most serious drugs (like cocaine and methamphetamines) and carries the most serious penalties. Then, categories 2 to 4 are progressively less severe. Within each of the four categories, there are ranges of possible penalties, and the higher the amount of the drug involved is, the closer to the top of the possible penalty range you are likely to end up at during sentencing.

Marijuana Crime Charges

There is a separate category outside of the Texas Controlled Substances Act for marijuana and its derivatives. Marijuana, generally, is illegal in Texas with few exceptions. Similar to the categories above, the severity of the penalties will increase based on the amount of marijuana or THC involved.

Marijuana Edibles In Texas

Did you know? In Texas, if you are arrested with a marijuana or THC edible, like a brownie, the severity of the charges and possible penalties are based on the weight of the entire edible, not just the weight of the drug itself. So if you have a brownie that weighs 70 grams but you only have a 16th of an ounce of marijuana baked into it (which is less than two grams), you will be charged as though you had 70 grams of marijuana.

Fighting All Types Of Charges

I handle cases involving all classes of drugs and marijuana and all types of drug-related crimes, including:

• Possession
• Possession with intent
• Possession of paraphernalia
• Manufacture and cultivation
• Distributing
• Trafficking
• Prescription drug crimes

If you have been charged with a drug-related crime in the Austin, Texas, area, call me at or email me to set up a meeting to discuss your case.