YOU MAY HAVE SEEN TODD SPODEK ON THE NETFLIX SHOW INVENTING ANNA
When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.
Manhattan Marijuana Possession Defense Lawyers
Every year, countless people all across Manhattan are charged and convicted of marijuana possession. The sad reality is that many of these people are innocent, but they lacked the type of criminal defense attorney fighting on their behalf that is necessary to prevail in a court of law. While it is true that we are a nation where the accused are to be viewed as innocent until proven guilty, the system is often stacked against those charged with a drug related offense. If that is where you find yourself right now, consider the following four reasons why you really need a Manhattan marijuana defense lawyer.
You Simply Did Not Commit the Crime
It is true that many people charged with such a crime simply did not commit it in the first place. Be it a misunderstanding or what have you, such a charge is nonetheless extremely serious. If you have not committed the crime, you might feel that you have nothing to worry about and opt to try to settle the matter on your own. This could be a mistake. There is a reason that you were charged in the first place. Law enforcement officials do not necessarily like to admit that they made an error, so you can bet the prosecution will continue unless a qualified and professional fighting on your behalf can make the charges go away before trial.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
It might be hard to believe, but roughly 20 percent of the adult population in this area has a criminal conviction on their record. This is a staggering statistic. For each of these individuals, however, they can tell you that such a conviction limits their employment opportunities. For this reason alone, you will want to fight the charges. Even if you are just sentenced to probation or a small prison sentence, you will find that the stigma will fall you around for the rest of your life when you go to fill out applications for employment.
One Criminal Possession Conviction Can Ruin Your Life
Laws in New York governing marijuana possession are strict. Depending on the amount you have in your possession at the time of arrest, you could be charged with anything from misdemeanor possession to having an actual felony charge of drug trafficking. You are often at the mercy of law enforcement and the prosecutors office in this regard. A lawyer can help negotiate terms of the charge and work to prove your innocence. Just one criminal possession conviction on your record can ruin your life, so make sure to have an attorney working on your behalf to keep that from happening.
Subsequent Convictions Can Add Years to the Sentence
If you happen to already have a drug possession charge on your record, a subsequent arrest can significantly raise the stakes. Sentences can be raised substantially to the point that you could be looking at decades behind bars. You cannot under estimate the importance of having a professional criminal defense attorney in such cases. You need to fight this and prove your innocence or get the charges reduced.
These are just four of the many reasons why you need to have a criminal defense attorney fighting on your side. The stakes are simply too high to trust just anybody. As soon as you have been charged with marijuana possession, no matter how major or minor the charge itself might seem to be, contact our office for help. We will put our years of experience and our speciality in the field to come to your prompt and speedy defense.
Can A Urine Test Reveal Marijuana and the Degree of Impairment?
This is a question that comes up quite often in our our criminal defense law practice, particularly when someone is facing a charge of driving while impaired. We have found it best to break the above question into two parts: “Can a urine test reveal the presence of marijuana?” and “Can a urine test determine the degree of impairment?”
Can a urine test reveal the presence of marijuana?
There are a number of chemical tests that can detect the presence of marijuana in a urine sample, but none of these are simple to administer, or are sufficiently reliable, to be used at the roadside or within a police station / state police barracks. There are a number of factors that contribute to such tests that can make them unsuitable for routine use. First among these shortcomings is the realization that there a number of substances that may trigger a “false positive” reaction.
Among the more common self-administered medications that are known to case a sample to “test positive” for THC, the compound that is responsible for the “high” that accompanies marijuana use, are ibuprofen (such as Advil, Motrin, and Midol), naproxen (Aleve and Naprosyn) and “proton blocker” antacids (such as Pepcid, Nexium, and Prevacid). Since many of these medications are available without a physician’s order, many people (including police officers) would have no reason to suspect that these “OTC” medications could suggest recent marijuana use when, in fact, no such use had taken place.
While it is true that marijuana can be detected in urine, the testing techniques required to detect THC and related compounds require sophisticated laboratory facilities and highly trained laboratory technologists. In fact, many state crime labs do not routinely perform such testing but will send such samples to one of a few testing centers nationwide with the capability to perform such analysis.
Can a urine test determine the degree of impairment?
In a word, “no.” Unlike the case with alcohol, where a certain amount of alcohol in a urine sample can be used to presume that the person submitting that sample is intoxicated or impaired, there isn’t a “presumptive” level of THC in the urine beyond which a person is considered to be impaired. There are a number of reasons why this is the case.
First of all, as is the case with alcohol use, a frequent marijuana user will have a higher tolerance for THC than will an infrequent user. In other words, the overall effect caused by a given amount of THC will vary depending on how frequently a person uses the substance: a relatively small amount of THC in the urine could have little effect on a regular user but that same amount could render an infrequent user to be all but helpless.
The second problem with using a urine test to determine the degree of impairment attributed to marijuana use is related to three separate, but related, characteristics that determine the effects of any substance: 1) intake, the manner in which a substance enters the body, 2) metabolism, how that substance is processed by the body, and 3) excretion, how and by what route that substance leaves the body.
In general, intake and metabolism take place at relatively constant rates while excretion is the most variable. Depending on factors such as body weight, the percentage of body fat, and the amount of fluid intake, the presence of marijuana and its byproducts can be detected up to 10 days after its most recent use. Since there is so much variability in the rate in which marijuana is excreted, and the fact that the amount excreted in the urine cannot be used to determine how much (and certainly not when) marijuana was ingested by an individual, such testing has very little value as evidence that could be used to support of a charge of driving while impaired.
In summary, there are far too many variables that must be taken into consideration if the amount of marijuana and its related compounds detected in a urine sample is to be used as evidence of impairment at the time such a sample was collected.
