Penalties for drug offenses in Oklahoma are among the toughest in the nation. With most drug-related offenses prosecuted as felonies, Oklahoma drug crimes carry severe sentences, including up to life in prison.  

Drug Raids in Edmond Oklahoma

Last week, police officers in Edmond, Oklahoma conducted drug raids on two apartment complexes. These raids resulted in eighteen arrests, eleven of which were for drug related offenses.  The remaining seven arrests were for outstanding warrants.

The majority of the Edmond arrests were for Oklahoma possession of marijuana or possession of drug paraphernalia.  Under Oklahoma law, first offense drug possession is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail.  Subsequent drug possession charges in Oklahoma are felonies. You can read more about possession of marijuana charges here and find information about possession of paraphernalia here.

According to Edmond police spokesperson Glynda Chu, the raids on the Rolling Green and Chapel Ridge apartments came as a result of resident complaints about drug trafficking and gang activity.  She would not comment on the possibility of future drug raids in the area, stating that the secrecy of such raids is the key to their effectiveness in rounding up arrests.

The Edmond drug raids were not the only cases last week that put the seemingly minor charge of Oklahoma marijuana possession in the spotlight.  A second grade teacher with Oklahoma City's Putnam City school district was arrested at her home in Yukon when police raided her home and found a pound of marijuana and two marijuana plants.  The teacher and her husband were arrested last Thursday on complaints of marijuana possession and cultivating marijuana in Oklahoma.  

Drug Cultivation Charges

Even first-offense cultivation charges are prosecuted as a felony and can result in a life sentence. While fourteen states and Washington, D.C. have enacted legalized medical marijuana laws, Oklahoma has no legal options for the use of marijuana.  All marijuana use in Oklahoma is considered "non-medical" and carries strict penalties.  While possession and cultivation for personal use seem minor, Oklahoma drug laws make the consequences of these actions quite severe.  

If you have been charged with a drug crime, including possession, drug trafficking, and cultivation, contact an expert defense lawyer as soon as possible to help create a successful strategy for fighting your charges.

Find more information about the arrests here.