Like many communities, Greenwood Village enforces strict drug laws. If police search your vehicle during a routine stop and discover controlled substances, you can expect an arrest. Even carrying prescribed medication without proper documentation can result in misdemeanor or felony charges (although it’s rare). Once the case proceeds, prosecutors rarely hesitate to press for a conviction.
Colorado law gives prosecutors wide authority in drug cases, and they don’t often reduce or drop charges unless challenged. This is why you should reach out to a Greenwood Village drug defense lawyer at Colorado Lawyer Team. We can examine the way you were stopped, the search itself, and the way evidence was collected to see if the police followed proper procedures or if your constitutional rights were violated. If we find issues such as a search without probable cause, that evidence may be excluded, which can shift the entire direction of your case.
Why Hire Us for Your Greenwood Village Drug Defense?
Colorado Lawyer Team was founded in 2015 by former Deputy District Attorney Justie Nicol, who has prosecuted and defended hundreds of criminal cases across Colorado. Our attorneys bring that same courtroom experience to defending drug charges in Greenwood Village.
- We Keep a Small Caseload: By limiting the number of clients we represent, we make sure each case receives close oversight from a senior attorney. Your file isn’t left to junior staff but handled with the attention it demands.
- We’re Thorough: We review lab results, chain-of-custody documentation, and warrant applications for flaws or inconsistencies. Any weakness in the prosecution’s evidence becomes an opening to reduce or dismiss charges.
- We Challenge Illegal Searches: If law enforcement officers lacked probable cause or exceeded the limits of a warrant, we act immediately to suppress the evidence. Courts can exclude improperly gathered material, which can undermine the state’s case entirely.
- We Communicate Directly: You can reach us outside standard business hours because legal problems don’t keep office schedules. We explain your options in clear language so you know the risks and outcomes tied to each choice.
- We Always Prepare for Trial Early: Every case is developed with trial in mind, even while negotiations are underway. Prosecutors are more likely to offer reductions or dismissals when they know the defense is ready to proceed in court.
Hiring Colorado Lawyer Team means choosing attorneys who combine prosecutorial insight with a defense strategy built for Greenwood Village courts. From the first filing to a possible trial, we work to protect your rights and your future.
Colorado Drug Offenses – An Overview
Colorado law separates drug crimes into felony and misdemeanor categories, with penalties that depend on the type of drug, the amount found, and whether prosecutors claim it was for personal use or distribution. The system uses schedules to classify drugs and then applies felony or misdemeanor levels to set punishment ranges.
Felony Drug Charges
Felony charges are ranked from DF1 through DF4:
- A DF1 offense, such as trafficking large amounts of heroin or methamphetamine, carries a mandatory prison sentence ranging from 8 to 32 years. These are the most severe charges in Colorado’s criminal justice system and leave little room for alternatives to incarceration. DF1’s are often charged with large amounts of drugs in the car, if dealing drugs results in the death of a drug user, or situations involving drugs + weapons both being found.
- DF2 and DF3 charges usually involve smaller quantities of Schedule I or II substances or activity tied to distribution. A conviction can still result in a prison term of 4 to 16 years, depending on the amount of drugs and the circumstances of the arrest.
- DF4 offenses usually involve possession of small amounts of Schedule I or II drugs without clear intent to distribute. A conviction can bring up to 2 years in prison, along with fines, and it leaves a felony record that impacts employment and housing.
In some cases, the evidence collected by police, such as packaging, scales, or large amounts of cash, can elevate a possession case into a distribution charge. That shift raises the severity of the offense and can add years to a potential sentence.
Misdemeanor Drug Offenses
Misdemeanor drug charges in Colorado fall into two categories: DM1 and DM2. These classifications depend on the type of drug and the amount involved. While misdemeanors carry less severe penalties than felonies, they can still result in jail time, fines, and a lasting criminal record.
- A DM1 charge generally involves possession of Schedule III, IV, or V drugs, such as anabolic steroids, Xanax, or Valium, without a valid prescription. Convictions can lead to up to 18 months in jail and fines as high as $5,000.
- DM2 charges cover lower-level conduct but still create lasting consequences. One example is possession of marijuana by someone under 21, even if the amount is under two ounces. Convictions can bring up to 12 months in jail and fines of up to $1,000, and they remain on your record.
Although misdemeanor drug crimes don’t carry the same prison terms as felonies, the long-term effects can still be significant. Employers, landlords, and professional boards often treat misdemeanor drug convictions as red flags, limiting opportunities long after the case is resolved. This is why misdemeanor charges should be taken seriously and handled with the same level of defense as felony charges.
Common Drug Charges in Greenwood Village
Drug-related arrests in Greenwood Village involve a range of charges. As you’ve seen, Colorado law applies strict classifications based on the type of substance, the amount involved, and whether there is evidence of personal use or distribution. Understanding the most common charges can help you see what’s at stake if you’re facing an accusation.
Possession of Controlled Substances
Possession is one of the most frequent drug charges in Greenwood Village. These cases can involve substances such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. The penalties vary widely: marijuana over two ounces can lead to a misdemeanor, while even a small amount of cocaine or heroin is a felony under Colorado law.
Prescription Drug Offenses
Prescription medications such as oxycodone, Xanax, or Adderall can lead to criminal charges when held without a valid prescription. Offenses include unlawful possession, prescription fraud, and distribution. Convictions often carry the same weight as other controlled substance crimes, and prosecutors treat these cases as seriously as street drug charges.
Drug Paraphernalia Charges
Items used to consume, store, or package drugs can also trigger criminal charges. Examples include glass pipes, syringes, bongs, baggies, or digital scales. While paraphernalia charges are usually misdemeanors or petty offense, they often accompany possession or distribution charges, compounding the potential penalties and making an innocence claim harder to prove.
Distribution and Trafficking Cases
Selling or transporting controlled substances exposes you to far more serious charges. Evidence such as scales, multiple baggies, large amounts of cash, or text messages arranging sales can shift a simple possession case into a felony distribution case. Trafficking charges, which involve moving larger quantities across city or state lines, carry some of the harshest penalties under Colorado law, including mandatory prison sentences.
Defenses to Drug Charges
Being charged with a drug offense is hugely stressful, but remember that prosecutors must prove every element of the case beyond a reasonable doubt. A strong defense usually comes from identifying errors in how the evidence was obtained, tested, or presented. The right strategy depends on the circumstances, but these are some of the most common defenses raised in Colorado drug cases.
- Illegal Search and Seizure: Police must comply with the Fourth Amendment when stopping, searching, or arresting someone. If officers searched your vehicle, home, or person without a valid warrant or probable cause, the evidence they collected may be thrown out. When key evidence is suppressed, the prosecution’s case often collapses.
- Problems With Lab Testing or Chain of Custody: Drug charges rely heavily on chemical testing and proper handling of substances. Labs sometimes make errors in testing or fail to properly store evidence, and missing paperwork can break the chain of custody. Any irregularities in these records can lead to doubts about whether the evidence is reliable enough to convict.
- Lack of Intent to Distribute: Prosecutors often elevate a possession charge to distribution when they find baggies, scales, or cash. But these items can have innocent explanations, and possession alone doesn’t prove intent to sell. Demonstrating that the drugs were for personal use rather than distribution can reduce a felony charge to a misdemeanor.
- Medical Marijuana or Prescription Exceptions: Colorado law permits medical marijuana use with a valid card, and many prescription drugs are legal when properly prescribed. If you had a lawful prescription or medical authorization, that can serve as a defense to possession charges. Proving that the drugs were legally obtained can result in a case being reduced or dismissed.
- Exceptions Under Colorado’s Mushroom Law: As of 2025, Colorado has changed how it handles certain psychedelic mushrooms. Adults 21 and older may possess and use natural psilocybin and psilocin in personal amounts. The law also created a system for supervised use at licensed healing centers, where trained facilitators oversee sessions in approved settings. These changes were introduced through the Natural Medicine Health Act, also known as Proposition 122.
What to Do After a Drug Arrest in Greenwood Village
Prosecutors in Colorado start building their cases as soon as charges are filed, and any mistakes at this stage can make defending yourself more difficult. Following the right approach protects your rights and keeps more options open as your case develops.
- Stay Calm and Document Everything: After being charged, you’ll likely be booked, processed, and given a court date. Writing down what you remember about the stop, search, or arrest gives your lawyer a clearer picture of what happened.
- Contact a Greenwood Village Drug Defense Lawyer: Involving an attorney at the start allows them to review the evidence and identify weaknesses before the case moves further. This can shape how charges are handled and create opportunities for a stronger defense.
- Do Not Admit Guilt: Any statement, even made casually, can be used against you in court. Avoiding admissions keeps defenses available that might otherwise be lost.
- Don’t Speak Without Counsel Present: Police officers are trained to frame questions in ways that seem harmless. Unfortunately, they can lead to damaging answers. Waiting until your lawyer is with you can prevent self-incrimination during questioning.
- Don’t Talk About Your Case In Jail: Many criminal cases, whether involving drugs or not, are made worse by your own statements being used against you in court. This includes things like admissions made during jail calls (which are recorded at all times unless on a confidential attorney-only line) or even conversations with cellies (roommates) who will turn “state’s evidence” and give testimony against you later. The best thing you can do is to remain silent, even in jail.
Get a Free Consultation From a Greenwood Village Drug Defense Lawyer
A drug arrest in Greenwood Village can affect your job, housing, and record for years. Colorado law allows prosecutors to pursue harsh penalties, from jail time to mandatory prison terms, depending on the type of drug and the amount involved. Defending against these charges means examining how the police handled the stop, how evidence was tested, and how the case is being built against you.
If you’re facing a drug charge, the attorneys at Colorado Lawyer Team bring both prosecutorial insight and defense experience to your side. We know how local courts handle these cases and what strategies can make a difference. Call us today at (970) 344-9401 to schedule a consultation and start building a defense that protects your rights and your future.