You don't deserve to go to jail for drug possession just because the police found some illegal drugs on your property. What if the drugs weren't yours or the police bungled up their investigations? Here are some of the viable defenses that may apply to you if the police charge you with drug possession.

Except for a few cases, the police don't have the authority to enter your property (say a car or house) to look for criminal evidence. The police must either have a probable cause or a search warrant from a judge.

Coercion (or duress) is a defense used in various crimes, and you can also use it to defend drug charges. The defense applies if someone uses actual force or the threat of force to make you commit a crime. You may have to prove that you had a reasonable fear for your life, the threat was immediate, and you couldn't escape the threat.

Unwitting possession applies if drugs were found on your property or person, but you were unaware of the drugs. For example, your brother may give you a package to deliver. If the police stop you and discover drugs in the package, you can use unwitting possession to avoid a conviction.

Some immunity from drug possession charges exists under certain circumstances. A classic example is drug overdose immunity. The law recognizes that a drug overdose can cause permanent injuries or even death. This immunity, which may provide some protection to the individual reporting the overdose, was created to encourage people to seek medical assistance when needed.

If the police charge you with drug possession, they need to produce the actual drugs they arrested you with as evidence during your trial. The government requires this as confirmation that you did possess the substances with which the police arrested you, and the substances are drugs. Missing evidence can weaken your case or get the court to dismiss the case.

You may also be able to escape a drug conviction if you can prove that you didn't own the drugs that led to your arrest. The defense may apply, for example, if the police find drugs in a common area of a shared apartment and arrest you for the drugs. Another example is when the police arrest you for drug possession after they find drugs in a car with multiple passengers.