How Colorado’s Mandatory Minimum Sentences Impact Drug Crime Defense
June 1, 2026
Even in states like Colorado that have decriminalized many drugs in specific amounts, drug convictions can haunt you for years.
Whenever anyone does a background check on you for a new job, housing, or even a loan, they will see convictions on your record, and you could lose opportunities long after you’ve served your debt to society. That’s why criminal record sealing exists in Colorado, but it’s essential to understand what types of convictions can be sealed and cannot.
Here [...]
In the U.S., Colorado is a state that views controlled substances a little more liberally than others. It was one of the first states to make marijuana legal, which makes it a bit of a trailblazer when it comes to modern drug laws – and they keep progressing. In 2019, voters in Denver elected to pass a referendum that decriminalized the use of psilocybin for adults over the age of 21.
Next on the ballot for Colorado voters to decide [...]
Sometimes, those found guilty of drug felonies in Colorado can face longer sentences than they otherwise would.
Many felonies in our state can lead to mandatory sentencing. These crimes are called aggravated drug crimes. But what is aggravated drug crimes? What makes them worse than non-aggravated drug crimes? Read on to find out all you need to know.
Aggravated Drug Crimes in DenverIn our state, there are two ways that you can get an aggravated sentence for a drug [...]
Possession with the intent to distribute is a serious drug charge in Colorado, even with the state’s progress toward drug legalization and decriminalization.
It’s important for every citizen to understand not only what charges of possession with intent to distribute mean but also what steps to take when you’re arrested for this crime. Read on to find out all about this drug crime in Colorado and what you should do if you’re arrested.
What Is Possession with Intent to Distribute[...]Colorado has led the nation in the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. Since 2012, marijuana has been legal in the state for those over 21 years of age to enjoy responsibly. Even though a decade has passed since legalization, it’s still not uncommon to run into Coloradans who aren’t sure what is and isn’t legal.
It’s vital to understand the rules and regulations regarding marijuana in the state to help keep yourself out of trouble with the law. Make no [...]
Only one drug felony level in Colorado carries a true mandatory prison sentence. The other three carry presumptive ranges where a judge still has discretion, meaning the defense strategy in a DF2, DF3, or DF4 case looks completely different from that in a DF1 case. At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our Denver drug crimes attorney has spent more than a decade in Denver courts, working to achieve better outcomes for clients facing felony drug charges.
Only One Drug[...]Yes. Dash cam footage from police vehicles and your own camera can be used to challenge DUI charges in Colorado. The question is not whether it is relevant but whether you know how to obtain it, how Colorado courts evaluate it, and what a defense attorney actually does with it. The Law Office of Jacob E. Martinez has defended DUI cases throughout Denver and surrounding Colorado courts for more than 15 years.
What Colorado Police Dash Cams Actually Record at[...]A deferred judgment and sentence allows a first-time offender in Colorado to plead guilty, complete a period of court supervision, and then have the guilty plea withdrawn and the charge dismissed permanently. For someone facing their first criminal charge, this is often the best available outcome.
At the Law Office of Jacob Martinez, our Denver criminal defense team has negotiated deferred judgment agreements in Colorado courts since 2014.
How a Deferred Judgment and Sentence Works in ColoradoThe defendant enters [...]