Ohio Drug Crimes Defense
Possession, trafficking, paraphernalia, manufacturing, and cultivation charges under R.C. Chapter 2925. McCown, Fisher & Cremeans LPA defends these charges across nine Southern Ohio counties from offices in Ironton and Chesapeake, with more than 50 combined years of trial experience. Select a charge below for a detailed breakdown of the statute, how Ohio grades it, the penalties, and the defenses that apply.
Drug Possession
In Ohio, “possession” can be actual (on you) or constructive (within your control) — and the degree depends entirely on the drug’s schedule and quantity. A first-degree felony is on the table for large amounts of the most serious substances.
Drug Possession defense → R.C. 2925.03Drug Trafficking
Trafficking does not require a sale. Under R.C. 2925.03, preparing drugs for shipment, transporting, or possessing them for distribution is enough — and proximity to a school or a juvenile bumps the felony level up.
Drug Trafficking defense → R.C. 2925.03, 2925.04 & 2925.11Marijuana Offenses
Adult-use cannabis became legal for Ohioans 21+ under Issue 2, and S.B. 56 reshaped the rules effective March 20, 2026. But “legal” has hard edges — and stepping over them is still a crime.
Marijuana Offenses defense → R.C. 2925.11 & 2925.03Cocaine Possession & Trafficking
Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, and Ohio prosecutes it aggressively. The felony level — and whether prison is mandatory — turns on the gram weight the lab reports.
Cocaine Possession & Trafficking defense → R.C. 2925.11, 2925.03 & 2925.04Methamphetamine Charges
Methamphetamine cases move fast toward the top of the felony scale, and a manufacturing allegation — even a small “one-pot” lab — carries serious, often mandatory, prison exposure.
Methamphetamine Charges defense → R.C. 2925.11 & 2925.03Heroin & Fentanyl Charges
Opioid cases draw some of the harshest treatment in Ohio drug law — and fentanyl-related compounds are graded by unit dose, so even small quantities can reach high felony levels.
Heroin & Fentanyl Charges defense → R.C. 2925.14 & 2925.141Drug Paraphernalia
A paraphernalia charge sounds minor, but a conviction still puts a drug offense on your record. The defense usually starts with whether the search that found the item was lawful.
Drug Paraphernalia defense → R.C. 2925.04 & 2925.041Drug Manufacturing & Cultivation
Manufacturing charges carry second- and first-degree felony exposure — and Ohio can charge you for assembling the chemicals even before any drug is produced.
Drug Manufacturing & Cultivation defense →Why Early Defense Matters
The most consequential decisions in a criminal case are made early — often before the first court date. Evidence is fresh, witnesses are available, surveillance and body-camera footage still exists, and the prosecution has not yet committed to a theory. The sooner we are reviewing the stop, the search, and the State’s evidence, the more leverage you have. Call (740) 532-8744 for a free, confidential review.