Drug Crimes Lawyer in Baltimore County, Maryland
Experienced Defense Against CDS Charges in Towson and Baltimore County
If you or a loved one has been charged with a drug crime in Baltimore County, Maryland, the difference between a one-year misdemeanor and a 20-year felony is often a charging decision—possession under Criminal Law § 5-601 versus possession with intent to distribute under § 5-602. Quantity, packaging, cash, messages, and the officer’s interpretation of a traffic stop can move a case from District Court to Circuit Court overnight.
Maryland Title 5 covers controlled dangerous substances, paraphernalia, and places used for drug activity. Cannabis is treated differently from cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and prescription opioids. Adult possession of a personal-use amount of cannabis is no longer a crime. Distribution of other substances, and possession of those substances in a quantity the State claims shows an intent to distribute, remains a serious felony.
At Shepard Law in Towson, principal attorney Stephen P. Shepard provides client-centered and compassionate criminal defense representation to individuals facing drug charges throughout Baltimore County. With more than a decade of dedicated service defending clients in Towson, Essex, Catonsville, and surrounding communities, our firm focuses on understanding your unique circumstances and protecting your future with thoughtful, personalized advocacy.
Take the Next Step – Contact Shepard Law Today
A drug charge in Baltimore County requires prompt legal guidance. The earlier you reach out, the better we can challenge the stop and the search, evaluate whether the State can prove intent to distribute, and address treatment, probation before judgment, and immigration or licensing consequences before the case is set in Circuit Court.
Call Shepard Law at (410) 648-4008 or complete our secure online contact form for a free, confidential consultation. We also offer jail visits for a fee when needed. Attorney Stephen P. Shepard is prepared to listen carefully to your story, explain your rights, and provide the client-centered and compassionate representation you deserve.
Drug Charges Shepard Law Defends
Shepard Law represents clients charged under Title 5 throughout Baltimore County. Dedicated pages on this site address several of these statutes in more detail.
- Possession of a controlled dangerous substance — § 5-601. Knowing possession of a CDS other than a lawful personal-use amount of cannabis. First conviction: up to 1 year and $5,000. Second or third: up to 18 months and $5,000. Fourth or subsequent: up to 2 years and $5,000.
- Possession with intent to distribute, or distribution — § 5-602. Distributing a CDS, or possessing a CDS other than cannabis in a quantity that reasonably indicates an intent to distribute. Penalties depend on the substance and prior convictions and can reach 20 years or more.
- Cannabis possession with intent to distribute — § 5-602(b) / § 5-607. A misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years and $5,000. Possession of a personal-use or civil-use amount, without other evidence of intent to distribute, is not that offense. Adult sharing of a personal-use amount without payment is not a crime.
- Volume offenses — § 5-612. Manufacture, distribution, or possession of specified large amounts (for example, 448 grams of cocaine or methamphetamine, 28 grams of opium or morphine, or 5 grams of fentanyl). For substances other than cannabis this is a felony with a 5-year mandatory minimum and a fine of up to $100,000.
- Maintaining a common nuisance — § 5-605. Keeping a dwelling, building, vehicle, or other place that is resorted to for the purpose of illegally administering a CDS, or that is used for manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, storing, or concealing a CDS.
- Paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia — §§ 5-619 and 5-620. Knowing possession of items the State claims are adapted for use with a CDS. Cannabis paraphernalia is treated differently from syringes and other controlled paraphernalia.
A traffic stop, a search of a car or a phone, or a warrant at a residence is how most of these cases begin. Companion charges can include weapons counts, driving while suspended, or a new count for statements made after the arrest.
Simple Possession Versus Intent to Distribute
Section 5-601 is the possession statute. Section 5-602 is the distribution and possession-with-intent statute. There is no fixed gram number that automatically converts possession of cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl into a felony. The State argues intent from the total circumstances—quantity, how the substance was packaged, cash, scales, messages, and whether more than one person was in the car. Those inferences are litigable. A larger personal-use amount is not automatically an intent to sell.
For cannabis, the statute is more specific. Possession of the civil-use amount or the personal-use amount, without other evidence of an intent to distribute, does not violate § 5-602(b). Adult sharing of a personal-use amount between people 21 or older, without payment and without a reciprocal commercial transaction, is not a crime.
Cannabis After Legalization
Strong Defenses to Drug Crime Charges
Adults 21 and older may possess a personal-use amount of cannabis. Possession of a personal-use amount by a person under 21, and possession of a civil-use amount, are generally civil offenses with modest fines—not the 1-year § 5-601 track used for other substances. Selling cannabis without a license remains a crime. Possession with intent to distribute cannabis remains a 3-year misdemeanor. Large-quantity cannabis under § 5-612(a)(1) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years and $50,000, not the 5-year mandatory-minimum felony that applies to the other listed substances.
At Shepard Law, we thoroughly investigate every drug case to build a thoughtful defense strategy tailored to your situation. Common issues include:
- An unlawful stop or search. A traffic pretext, an overlong detention, or a search of a car, phone, or home without probable cause or a valid warrant can require suppression of the CDS.
- No knowing possession. The State must prove the accused knew of the substance and exercised dominion and control over it. A passenger in a car, a shared apartment, or a bag that belonged to someone else is not automatic possession.
- No intent to distribute. Quantity, cash, and packaging are circumstances. They are not a confession. Personal use and sharing without sale are not the same as distribution.
- The substance and the weight. Lab identification and the way the State measures a mixture matter, especially under § 5-612.
- Lawful cannabis or a valid prescription. Adult personal-use cannabis and a CDS obtained by a valid prescription are statutory exceptions when the facts fit.
Stephen P. Shepard approaches each case with care and attention, working closely with clients to pursue the most appropriate resolution—whether suppression and dismissal, a reduction from § 5-602 to § 5-601, probation before judgment where available, a treatment-based disposition, or trial.
Why Choose Shepard Law for Drug Crimes Defense in Baltimore County
Stephen P. Shepard is a respected Baltimore County criminal defense attorney recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” Avvo with a 10.0 “Superb” rating, Martindale-Hubbell as a “Client Champion Platinum,” and The National Trial Lawyers as a “Top 40 Under 40.” He is an active member of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association and regularly appears in Baltimore County courts.
Our Towson office, located at 303 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson, MD 21204, serves clients across Baltimore County. At Shepard Law, you receive client-centered and compassionate representation focused on your individual needs and long-term well-being.
Take the Next Step – Contact a Drug Crimes Lawyer in Towson Today
Call Shepard Law at (410) 648-4008 or complete our secure online contact form for a free, confidential consultation. We also offer jail visits for a fee when needed. Attorney Stephen P. Shepard is prepared to listen carefully to your story, explain your rights, and provide the client-centered and compassionate representation you deserve.
Shepard Law provides defense for drug-related charges under Maryland law, including possession of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), possession with intent to distribute, possession of controlled paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance. CDS charges may involve substances such as cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, or prescription opioids.
Simple possession of a CDS other than lawful cannabis is a misdemeanor under § 5-601. Possession with intent to distribute most non-cannabis substances is a felony. Cannabis PWID is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years.
Quantity is one circumstance. Section 5-602 asks whether the quantity reasonably indicates an intent to distribute under all the circumstances. Packaging, cash, messages, and who else was present are part of that analysis—and they can be challenged.
Adults 21 and older may possess a personal-use amount. Selling cannabis without a license, and possessing cannabis with intent to distribute, remain crimes. Under-21 personal-use possession and civil-use possession are generally civil offenses.
Section 5-612 imposes a 5-year nonsuspendable mandatory minimum for manufacture, distribution, or possession of listed large quantities of specified substances other than cannabis. Cannabis at the 50-pound threshold is a separate 10-year misdemeanor.
Yes. Shepard Law defends CDS possession, possession with intent to distribute, paraphernalia, and common-nuisance charges in Towson District Court and Baltimore County Circuit Court, and represents clients from Towson, Essex, Catonsville, and surrounding communities. Call (410) 648-4008 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
