Kansas City Drug Crime Defense Lawyers

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The “War on Drugs” continues in Kansas City and surrounding areas, and a drug-related conviction can still result in stiff penalties and collateral consequences that may profoundly impact your freedom, your family, your employment, your eligibility to hold a professional license, your educational access, and much more. If you are under investigation or have already been arrested for a drug-related crime, call Joseph, Hollander & Craft. Our Kansas City drug crime defense lawyers work quickly to protect your rights.

What Sets Our Kansas City Drug Crime Defense Attorneys Apart

Among our firm’s drug crime defense attorneys are former prosecutors who bring invaluable perspective to the defense of your case. Others are career defense attorneys dedicated to challenging police overreach and fighting the mass incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders. Our Kansas City drug crime defense lawyers have defended thousands of clients facing drug charges in the Kansas City metro in Missouri and Kansas.

Drug Defense Cases We Take

Despite recent efforts to reform drug crime laws, arrests for drug offenses remain higher than for any other category of crime. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Kansas City drug crime defense lawyers have the experience and knowledge required to vigorously defend you—no matter the charge. We defend all types of drug charges, including:

• Possession
• Trafficking
• Distribution
• Cultivation
• Manufacturing
• Smuggling
• Conspiracy
• Prescription drug fraud

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony drug crime, we can help.

Strategic Defense When Your Constitutional Rights Have Been Violated

Our Kansas City drug crime defense lawyers are familiar with the investigative tactics utilized by various law enforcement authorities, and we can tell you whether they have violated your Fourth Amendment rights during a stop or search or your Fifth Amendment rights during an interrogation. We know how to mount an effective suppression defense to ensure evidence obtained in violation of your constitutional rights will not be used against you in court.

We regularly review traffic stops by highway interdiction officers to spot problems with the initial car stop and prolonged roadside detentions. We know what does and what does not justify the issuance of a search warrant and can tell if the officers executing a warrant to search your property exceeded the lawful scope of their authority. In addition, we will examine whether any statements you made were extracted via improper conduct. By challenging these constitutional violations, Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Kansas City drug attorneys work to control the evidence available at trial and prevent the prosecution from benefiting from police misconduct.

We Defend Against Drug Charges in State and Federal Courts

For decades, our drug crime defense attorneys have represented individuals charged with municipal, state, and federal offenses for all types of drugs—from marijuana and cocaine to methamphetamine and synthetic drugs. Prosecutors and judges are familiar with our Kansas City drug crimes attorneys due to our many years of consistent presence in their courts. They know we have earned our top-tier ratings by aggressively fighting drug charges and achieving favorable results in and out of court.

Don’t delay—call our Kansas City drug crime defense lawyers today.

Common Defenses for Drug Crime Charges in Kansas City

How we defend your case will depend on the specific facts at issue and your ultimate goals. There are several options for defending a drug case:

1. Winning at trial requires that a jury determine one of the elements of the offense has not been satisfied. For instance: Consider a situation where drugs are found in a car driven by your friend where you were the passenger. Your mere presence in a car where drugs are found is not enough to prove that you possessed those drugs. Rather, the prosecution must show that you knew the drugs were in the car with you. If there is reasonable doubt that you knew about the drugs, you may be acquitted at trial.
2. You may be able to avoid trial altogether if you have a viable suppression issue. Any evidence obtained in violation of your constitutional rights (such as an unreasonable stop or search) may be suppressed (excluded from trial). If the suppressed evidence is necessary to make a case against you at trial, the prosecution may have to dismiss the charges.
3. Obtaining the lowest possible sentence may be your focus when a wholesale victory like acquittal or dismissal is not practicable. This can be managed by negotiating a plea to a lesser charge and presenting mitigating evidence and information to the judge who will sentence you.

If you have been charged with a drug crime in the Kansas City metro area, call Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s drug lawyers today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can felony drug charges be dropped?

Felony drug charges can be dropped (dismissed) or reduced at any time before conviction.

The most effective way to obtain a full dismissal of felony drug charges is to win a suppression argument. The law permits a judge to suppress (exclude from trial) any evidence obtained in violation of the defendant’s constitutional rights—including the very drugs underlying a criminal charge. For example, if the cops stopped or searched your car in violation of the Fourth Amendment and found illegal drugs in your car as a result, the judge can suppress the drug evidence so that the prosecution is not allowed to present it at a trial. If the prosecution has no other evidence to make its case against you at trial, it is left with no choice but to dismiss the charges.

If you have pending drug charges, call Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s drug lawyers today.

What is the difference between state drug charges and federal drug charges?

Whether your drug offense will be prosecuted at the federal or state level often depends on the quantity and type of drug at issue. Larger amounts of more dangerous drugs tend to receive more attention from federal authorities. If you are stopped or questioned by federal agents (DEA or FBI), it is likely your case will be prosecuted in federal court. As a general rule, federal drug charges carry heavier penalties than state drug charges.

Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s defense attorneys handle state and federal drug charges. Our drug crime defense attorneys in Kansas City have successfully defended individuals implicated in large-scale multi-drug conspiracies, medical professionals charged with diverting narcotics, low-level drivers and “mules,” and nearly everything in between.

We have experience litigating issues specific to federal drug investigations (including wiretaps and confidential informants). And we are well-versed on the United States Sentencing Guidelines applicable to drug offenses.

Can I be charged with possession if I’m charged with driving while intoxicated?

Yes, facing both charges at once is entirely possible. In Kansas City, driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges frequently raise suspicion of drug use, prompting law enforcement to search your vehicle for illegal substances. Should officers discover drugs during the search, you may be charged with possession in addition to DWI.

If you are facing DWI and drug possession charges, Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s experienced attorneys will meticulously review the circumstances of your case. We will examine the legality of the stop, search, and seizure to identify any constitutional violations that could lead to the suppression of evidence—and potentially a dismissal of charges.

How do drug schedules work?

The federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) organized all substances regulated by federal law into categories (called schedules) based on their abuse potential, medical use, and safety. The federal drug scheduling system includes five categories:

• Schedule I: controlled substances with high abuse potential, no accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD).
• Schedule II: controlled substances with high abuse potential, some medical use (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone).
• Schedule III: controlled substances with moderate to low potential for dependence (e.g., anabolic steroids, ketamine).
• Schedule IV: controlled substances with low abuse potential, accepted medical use (e.g., Xanax, Valium).
• Schedule V: controlled substances with minimal abuse potential (e.g., cough syrups with low codeine content).

Many states have identical or similar drug schedules, although they do not have to.

Can a drug conviction affect my custody agreement?

Yes, a drug conviction can impact your custody agreement. Courts in Kansas and Missouri prioritize the child’s best interests when deciding custody issues. Being charged with or convicted of a drug offense may provide a basis for the child’s other parent to request that a judge reduce your parenting time, require supervised visits, or alter custody rights.

If you are facing drug charges and are concerned it may impact your custody arrangement, Joseph, Hollander & Craft ‘s attorneys can help. Visit our Kansas City child custody page for more information on how we can assist with family law matters.

Who is a candidate for drug court?

Drug courts are specialized programs designed to provide treatment and rehabilitation instead of traditional criminal penalties. These treatment courts aim to reduce recidivism and help individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Eligibility for drug court depends on several factors, including:

• The nature of the offense.
• The individual’s criminal history.
• Evidence of substance use issues that could be addressed through treatment.

Participation in drug court requires compliance with a structured program involving counseling and drug testing. Successful completion of the program can result in reduced or dismissed charges.

If you are interested in drug court, our attorneys can evaluate your eligibility and guide you through the process. Both Missouri and Kansas offer this potential option.

Where are the courthouses in Kansas City?

Kansas City is home to multiple courthouses serving different jurisdictions and case types:

Kansas City, Missouri, courthouses:

• Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse: Only a brief walk from our Cherry Street office, hearings for cases assigned to the Kansas City docket for the Western District of Missouri are heard at 400 E. 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
• Jackson County Circuit Court (16th Circuit Court): Located at 415 E. 12th Street, this courthouse handles state-level criminal cases for the Kansas City, Missouri area.
• Kansas City Missouri Municipal Court: Located within City Hall at 511 E. 11th Street, the KCMO municipal court addresses city ordinance violations, including some misdemeanor drug cases.

Kansas City, Kansas, courthouses:

• Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse: Located at 500 State Ave in Kansas City, Kansas, this is one of three federal courthouses serving cases filed in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
• Wyandotte County District Court: Found at 710 N. 7th Street, Kansas City, KS, this court handles state-level cases in Kansas.
• Kansas City Kansas Municipal Court: On the Second Floor of 701 N 7th Street, Kansas City, KS, this municipal court handles misdemeanors and infractions.

Our attorneys are familiar with the procedures and personnel in these courthouses and can represent you effectively, no matter the venue.

Do You Have a Kansas City Drug Crime Defense Lawyer Near Me?

Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Kansas City office is conveniently located near downtown, just off 10th and within walking distance of the Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse; the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri; and the Kansas City Missouri Municipal Court. Easily reached from I-35, I-70, and I-670, our office is accessible for clients throughout the metro area. We also maintain additional offices in Overland Park, Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita for your convenience.

Contact Our Kansas City Drug Defense Attorneys Today

Whether you are charged in municipal, state, or federal court, Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s drug lawyers are prepared to provide your best defense. With decades of experience, a track record of favorable outcomes, and a deep understanding of Missouri and Kansas drug laws, our team is ready to fight for you. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how we can help you move forward.