Grand Rapids Drug Charge Attorney

A Full-Service Defense Team for Michigan Drug Crimes

Facing a drug charge in Grand Rapids carries real consequences, and the choices you make early on can shape everything that follows. At Tanis Schultz, our attorneys bring over 50 years of combined experience to drug crime defense across Grand Rapids, Kentwood, and the rest of West Michigan. When you hire us, you get an entire team working your case, not a single lawyer navigating the Kent County courts alone.

We offer free consultations, same-day appointments, and after-hours availability so you can reach us when you need to. Contact our drug defense lawyers today at (616) 227-3737 or use our contact form to schedule your consultation.

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Drug Charges We Defend in Grand Rapids

Our attorneys defend clients against the full range of drug offenses prosecuted in Kent County. Drug cases in Grand Rapids typically move through district courts for arraignment and preliminary hearings, then on to the 17th Circuit Court for felony proceedings. Early intervention can affect how charges are brought and whether they escalate to that level. A pre-charge investigation may also create opportunities to address the case before formal charges are filed.

Charges we handle include:

• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession with intent to deliver
• Drug trafficking and transportation
• Manufacturing and maintaining a drug house
• Prescription drug offenses, including illegal possession of opioids and other controlled substances without a valid prescription

Possession can be actual, meaning drugs found on your person, or constructive, meaning drug possession in an area under your control, such as a vehicle or home. Prosecutors may seek to show that you knew the drugs were there and had access to them. Possession with intent to deliver is often charged based on circumstantial evidence, such as a quantity above personal-use thresholds, packaging materials, scales, or large amounts of cash found at the scene.

Prescription drug offenses, including illegal possession of opioids and fentanyl, are among the most actively prosecuted drug crimes in Kent County. Law enforcement across West Michigan has intensified focus on these offenses in the years following marijuana legalization. Federal charges may also apply when cases involve large quantities or interstate transportation, prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in Grand Rapids.

Michigan Drug Penalties Under MCL 333.7403

Michigan drug possession penalties scale by controlled substance schedule and weight. Under MCL 333.7403, the statutory maximums for Schedule I or II substances are:

• Under 25 grams: up to 4 years in prison and a $25,000 fine
• 25 to 49 grams: up to 4 years in prison and a $25,000 fine
• 50 to 449 grams: up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
• 450 to 999 grams: up to 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine
• 1,000 grams or more: up to life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine

Possession of any amount of methamphetamine or MDMA carries up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Delivery, manufacture, and trafficking charges carry significantly harsher penalties than simple possession for the same substance. Most drug crimes in Michigan are charged as felonies, though some possession charges qualify as misdemeanors, depending on schedule and amount.

The consequences don’t stop at sentencing. A drug conviction in Michigan also triggers a mandatory driver’s license suspension, even when driving wasn’t part of the offense. A first offense typically results in a 6-month suspension, with the possibility of a restricted license after 30 days. Beyond that, a conviction can cost you a professional license, create barriers to employment and housing, eliminate federal financial aid eligibility, and carry immigration consequences, including potential deportation.

Why Grand Rapids Clients Choose Tanis Schultz

Founded by Joshua Tanis and Steve Schultz, our firm has built a litigation record that includes complex cases against major corporations, government institutions, and large insurance companies. That experience translates directly to criminal defense: we know how to analyze evidence, challenge the government’s case, and present your defense effectively in the 17th Circuit Court.

Our team uses advanced technology in both office and courtroom settings, which means we’re prepared to dissect digital evidence, cell records, and forensic lab results that prosecutors often rely on in drug cases. Clients receive a strategy built around their specific facts, not a template applied to every drug case we see.

We’re also available when most law firms aren’t. After-hours calls are answered, same-day appointments are available, and your first consultation is free. Whether you’re facing a first-time possession charge or a serious felony, our criminal defense team is ready to get to work.