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 submissions tailored to your circumstances Guidance on character references and any rehabilitation or treatment material Full appearance by Sacha at your sentencing hearing Post-sentence advice on any conviction recorded, probation conditions, or further obligations
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 25 years' imprisonment on indictment; summary maximum 2 years Most possession charges for personal use quantities are dealt with in the Magistrates Court. The realistic sentencing range for a first-offence possession matter is a fine, a good behaviour bond, or — with the right submissions — no conviction recorded.
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 operation — even for personal use — is a production charge, not a possession charge. The maximum penalties for supply and production are higher, and Magistrates-level disposition is less available as the quantity increases. The $4,800 fixed fee covers straightforward supply or production matters dealt with in the Magistrates Court. Where a matter is committed to the District Court, it is covered under the District Court fixed fee.
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 methamphetamine: Trafficable quantity: 2 grams Commercial quantity: 200 grams Where the quantity found exceeds a trafficable threshold, the prosecution may allege supply even without direct evidence of dealing. The quantity creates a presumption that the drug was for supply rather than personal use. Sacha will advise on whether the quantity in your matter triggers that presumption and how to respond to it.
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 prosecution's case is strengthened by anything that suggests the drug was not for personal use — scales, clip-seal bags, cash, or messaging records. Where the prosecution is alleging supply from circumstantial evidence, that is worth examining carefully. Your history. A first drug offence for a person with no prior record carries a very different sentencing range from a repeat offence. The Magistrates Court has discretion to deal with a first-offence possession matter without recording a conviction under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) — with the right submissions, this is a realistic outcome. Rehabilitation steps. Completion of a drug and alcohol programme, counselling, or treatment since the charge is relevant to sentence. Courts in Queensland respond to genuine engagement with the underlying issue. Sacha will advise on what is worth doing before your hearing date. Whether the search was lawful. Where there are issues with the lawfulness of the search that produced the evidence — the validity of a warrant, whether the search exceeded its scope, whether your consent was properly obtained — those issues can affect the admissibility of the evidence. Sacha will review the search warrant material and advise.
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 12 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) produces the same result without the conditions attached to diversion. Sacha will assess which pathway is better in your matter. See Drug Diversion Cairns.
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 the offence, your history, and any rehabilitation steps. The difference between a fine and a conviction recorded, or between a fine and a period of imprisonment for a supply charge, depends on the quality of what is placed before the court.
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 between possession and supply? Possession is having a drug in your control for your own use. Supply includes selling, giving, or agreeing to give a drug to another person — including giving drugs to a friend. You do not need to receive money for it to be supply. Quantity can also trigger a presumption of supply even without direct evidence of dealing. Can I be charged with supply if I only had a small amount? Yes, if the circumstances suggest the drug was not for personal use — scales, packaging, cash, or messaging records indicating dealing. Quantity thresholds also trigger presumptions of supply. Sacha will review the evidence and advise on whether a supply charge is supportable in your specific circumstances. What if the police search was unlawful? If the search that produced the evidence was conducted without a valid warrant, beyond the scope of a warrant, or without proper consent, the evidence may be excludable. This is a technical legal question that depends on the specific circumstances. Sacha will review the search material and advise at the first consultation. Does a drug conviction affect my job? A drug conviction can affect employment, professional registration, working with children checks, and the ability to travel to certain countries. Sacha will advise on the likely consequences for your specific situation at the first consultation.