Drug Manufacturing Lawyer in Grand Rapids

Over 50 Years of Combined Experience Defending MCL 333.7401 Charges

A drug manufacturing charge under Michigan law isn’t a single accusation. MCL 333.7401 combines manufacturing, delivery, and possession with intent to deliver into one statute, and prosecutors can pursue overlapping theories at once. Defending against that requires more than a standard criminal defense response. At Tanis Schultz, founded by Joshua Tanis and Steve Schultz, our attorneys bring over 50 years of combined experience to cases precisely this complex, and every client who hires one of our attorneys gets the resources of our entire team.

We represent people at every stage, from initial investigation through trial, combining thorough legal analysis with advanced courtroom technology to build the strongest defense the facts support.

If you or someone you know is under investigation or has been charged with drug manufacturing in Grand Rapids or Kentwood, contact us now at (616) 227-3737. We offer free consultations and same-day appointments, including after-hours availability.

What Michigan Law Defines as Drug Manufacturing

MCL 333.7401 makes it unlawful to manufacture, create, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. The statute covers a wide range of conduct. Common examples include operating a methamphetamine lab, cultivating marijuana beyond Michigan’s legal personal-use limits, and purchasing precursor chemicals such as pseudoephedrine with documented intent to produce methamphetamine.

To secure a conviction, prosecutors must prove that the defendant knowingly manufactured a controlled substance, that the substance matched the charge, and that its weight fell within the alleged quantity range. Penalties track two variables regardless of which theory is charged: drug type and amount.

Manufacturing violations involving Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic drugs or cocaine-related substances are classified under Michigan’s Code of Criminal Procedure as a “major controlled substance offense.” Federal agencies, particularly the DEA, can become involved when investigations touch precursor chemicals, large quantities, or interstate activity, which can produce separate federal charges alongside state proceedings.

Penalty Ranges Under MCL 333.7401

Michigan eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for drug manufacturing convictions under MCL 333.7401 in 2003, giving judges discretion within statutory maximums. The ranges below reflect those maximums. Actual outcomes depend on case-specific facts, criminal history, and other factors a court considers at sentencing.

Schedule 1 & 2 Narcotics (Including Heroin and Cocaine)

• 1,000 grams or more: up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000,000; a sentence at this tier may run consecutively with any other felony sentence
• 450 to 999 grams: up to 30 years and a fine of up to $500,000
• 50 to 449 grams: up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000
• Less than 50 grams: up to 20 years and a fine of up to $25,000

Other Controlled Substances

• Methamphetamine or MDMA: up to 20 years under MCL 333.7401(2)(b)(i)
• Other Schedule 1, 2, or 3 substances: up to 7 years and a fine of up to $10,000
• Schedule 4 substances: up to 4 years and a fine of up to $2,000
• Schedule 5 substances: up to 2 years and a fine of up to $2,000

Marijuana Cultivation or Manufacturing

• 45 kilograms or more, or 200 or more plants: up to 15 years and a fine of up to $10,000,000
• 5 to 45 kilograms or 20 to 200 plants: up to 7 years and a fine of up to $500,000
• Under 5 kilograms or fewer than 20 plants: up to 4 years and a fine of up to $20,000

Counterfeit Prescription Forms

Manufacturing a counterfeit prescription form carries up to 7 years and a fine of up to $5,000.

Why a Team Approach Matters for a Charge This Serious

Manufacturing cases regularly involve search warrants, chemical evidence, surveillance records, and expert witnesses. A single attorney reviewing that volume of material faces real limits. When you work with Tanis Schultz, you work directly with your attorney, and that attorney draws on our full team’s analysis, research, and courtroom preparation. That’s a structural advantage in a case where the prosecution has dedicated investigative resources.

Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience handling high-profile and complex criminal matters. We treat the attorney-client relationship as a working partnership, and every strategy is built around your specific situation, not a generic template for drug charges.