Drug possession is a serious criminal offense that holds tough consequences. Depending on the drug found in possession as well as the amount found, penalties can vary significantly. The penalties can also be greater if the drug is considered to be in possession with the intent to sell. Strictly sticking to possession for personal use, drugs are categorized and the punishments are different for each category.
Starting with marijuana, if you are found in possession of less than four ounces of marijuana you may be facing up to one year in jail and up to $1,000 in fines for a first offense. Penalties for second and subsequent offenses increase significantly. A second offense for possession of four ounces of marijuana is punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $3,000. That shows the large jump for a second drug offense.
If you are found in possession of more than four ounces of marijuana, you are at risk of up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $2,000 for a first offense. Aside from marijuana, other possession charges follow this breakdown of penalties for a first offense:
Possession of:
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Heroin, Cocaine or Crack
- Jail sentence of up to seven years
- A fine of up to $50,000
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Amphetamine type substance
- Jail sentence of up to one year
- A fine of up to $1,000
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Any amount of Hallucinogenic substance
- Jail sentence of up to five years
- A fine of up to $2,000
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Any other controlled substance
- Jail sentence of up to one year
- A fine of up to $1,000
Second and subsequent offenses for these possession charges have stricter penalties. If you have questions regarding these penalties or if you need representation for a drug crime case, contact Carlson & Dumeer, LLC right away.
Our Hartford criminal attorneys offer a free case evaluation so call now to get started!