Drug Offences Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$2,100 — Fixed Fee
Fixed fees: Drug possession plea — Cairns Magistrates Court— $2,100 fixed. Drug supply or production plea — Cairns Magistrates Court — $4,800 fixed Covers : initial consultation, review of the prosecution brief, advice on charge and facts, sentencing submissions, court appearance, and post-sentence advice. No hidden fees. One invoice. All fees +10% GST.
What Is Included
Initial consultation to review your charge, the substance involved, the quantity, and the circumstances of the offence Advice on the likely penalty range and the realistic outcomes for your specific charge Review of the prosecution brief and any search warrant material Advice on whether the charge or the alleged facts can be negotiated with the prosecution Preparation of written sentencing…
Possession and Supply — What You Are Facing
Drug offences in Queensland are governed by the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld). The charge you face — and the court that deals with it — depends on the substance, the quantity, and what the prosecution alleges you were doing with it.
Drug possession
Possession of a dangerous drug under section 9 of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld) is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty depends on the schedule of the drug: Schedule 2 drugs (cannabis, certain amphetamines) — maximum 15 years' imprisonment on indictment; summary maximum 2 years and a fine of 200 penalty units Schedule 1 drugs (heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, certain opioids) — maximum…
Drug supply and production
Supply of a dangerous drug under section 6 of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld) is treated significantly more seriously than possession. Supply includes selling, giving, distributing, or agreeing to supply — it does not require a commercial transaction. Handing drugs to a friend is supply. Production under section 8 covers manufacturing, producing, or cultivating a dangerous drug. A cannabis grow…
The Quantity and What It Means
Quantity is one of the most important factors in a drug matter. Queensland law sets specific quantity thresholds that trigger different charges and different maximum penalties. For cannabis: Personal use quantity: under 50 grams (possession) Trafficable quantity: 500 grams and above (possession with intent to supply is presumed) Commercial quantity: 500 grams and above for supply purposes For…
What Changes the Outcome
The sentencing range for drug offences is wide. The factors that determine where your matter sits are the ones Sacha works with before the hearing. The substance and quantity. A small amount of cannabis is treated differently from a quantity of methamphetamine. The type of drug and the amount found is the starting point for every drug matter. Personal use versus supply. For possession charges, the…
Drug Diversion
If your charge involves personal use of a small quantity — particularly cannabis — you may be eligible for Queensland's Drug Diversion Programme. Diversion allows the matter to resolve without a conviction being recorded, on completion of an education or assessment session. Diversion is not always the best option. In some cases, a straight plea with an application for no conviction under section…
What Sacha Focuses On
The brief is reviewed in full before submissions are prepared. Where there are issues with the prosecution's evidence — the circumstances of the search, the quantity alleged, the basis for a supply charge — Sacha identifies them and advise on whether a defended hearing is the right course. For plea matters, the written submissions Sacha prepares address your specific circumstances, the nature of…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will I get a criminal record for drug possession? The Magistrates Court has discretion to deal with a first-offence possession matter without recording a conviction in appropriate circumstances. This is a realistic outcome for a first offence involving a small quantity for personal use, with the right submissions. Sacha will tell you honestly whether it applies in your case. What is the difference…