so last night i smoking marijuana with a friend in my room. he left to go smoke a cigarette, and when he came back he said the cops were at the door and wanted to talk to me. before i had time to think i grabbed what i could in my hand and made for the bathroom, the cops were at my bedroom door when i opened it. they searched my room, found all my pot and my pipe. i was read my rights, cuffed, and taken to the police station. they booked me for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphenalia (sp?). it was the first time i'd ever gotten anything more than a speeding ticket.

can somebody please tell me what the possible punishments for this is?

also, when i talked to my friend later and asked him why he let the cops in, he told me that he didnt, they asked to talk to me and so he said he would go get me. he left the door open just a crack as he walked to get me and they just followed him in. the police had said that he invited them into the apartment, i know this because after the whole ordeal being at the station they had me go back and take them to my friend so that they could get his name.

NOW, was this legal? do they have the right to enter my place like that with no invitation or warrant or anything? is this any kind of defense i can use, perhaps to have the case thrown out (illegal search an seizure or something of that nature)?

i live in baton rouge, louisiana. in case you need to know where i live. i will post this in the ask a lawyer section as well, just to be sure the right people see this. i would have gone to talk to the police officer who took me in about all of this, but i don't want him to have a heads up and be prepared for that defense when it goes to court, if that even makes sense.

PLEASE any help is appreciated, and the sooner the better.