Sixteen Arrested in Three Georgia Counties for Marijuana Trafficking

According to reports out of three Metro Atlanta counties, a five month long investigation resulted in the seizure of $35,000,000 worth of marijuana. Five different houses were raided today in Clayton County, Gwinnett County, and Henry County. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that each of the houses were embedded in their own communities, and that “no one would have suspected” any drug operations inside any of the homes.

Each of the houses contained between 300 and 1500 marijuana plants. Sixteen people were arrested on trafficking charges.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will focus in on the offense of trafficking marijuana in today's post as most of the individuals connected to the raid were arrested for allegedly committing this offense.

Trafficking Marijuana in Georgia

Most people are under the impression that laws around marijuana have eased up in the state of Georgia. This may be true for other parts of the country, however, marijuana is still regulated under the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. Although marijuana is not considered a scheduled substance it still falls until the category of “controlled substances.” There are many criminal offenses surrounding marijuana in the state of Georgia. These include:

• Possession of marijuana in Georgia
• Manufacturing marijuana in Georgia
• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Georgia
• Purchase or sale of marijuana flavored products in Georgia
• Sale of marijuana in Georgia

And of course, the most serious of all marijuana offenses, trafficking marijuana in Georgia.

Trafficking marijuana in the state of Georgia is defined by law in O.C.G.A. §16-13-31 as:

When someone sells, manufactures, grows, delivers, brings into this state, or has possession of a quantity of marijuana exceeding ten pounds.

Trafficking marijuana is considered a felony offense. The penalties for a trafficking marijuana conviction depend greatly on how much marijuana is in that individual's possession. An amount greater than 10 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds requires at least a five-year prison sentence and shall pay a fine of $100,000.00. An amount of marijuana between 2,000 and 10,000 pounds requires a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of $250,000.00. For any amount of marijuana above 10,000 pounds, the minimum sentence is fifteen years with a fine of $1 million. 

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested for any of the drug offenses in Georgia, contact our offices today. We can help you understand your options. We are dedicated to helping people who have been arrested. A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney will work hard on your behalf. Call now.