It's not always the price but important to make sure that he has a good lawyer. It's common gonna place to plead not guilty even when it's obvious that you are. Then in most cases your lawyer works out a plea bargain to a reduce charge. If he just pleads not guilty and get sentenced he going in there blind.
Was his priors drug reacted,the pills might hurt him more,25gs isn't really that much weed. Here in NY that's probably just a misdemeanor. It depends how strict the local da and judges are. His lawyer should be able to give some sort of guess what he is look at, the da should offer him a plea bargain. I think if there is a chance for probation with a good lawyer. If the county he in is strict and he has priors especially related to drugs then probably looking at some time in jail. Regardless prior related to drugs are gonna look bad on him. If he has a prior felony he might be looking at increased time.

