Drug Charges
Drug charges cover a broad range of offenses, from the less severe, like simple possession of a small amount of certain drugs, to the more serious, such as participation in an ongoing drug-related criminal enterprise or manufacturing and distributing drugs. Even minor charges can be terrifying, and carry the risk of serious penalties upon conviction; the more serious charges, of course, can give rise to even considerably greater consequences. The State of New York has a strict penal code for the prosecution of drug-related offenses. This is why, if you find yourself facing drug-related charges in New York, you need skilled, experienced legal representation with expertise in drug crimes. If you have been arrested for a drug charge, contact Criminal Legal Help.com.
The links below point to descriptions of various drug-related crimes as defined in New York Penal Law - Chapter 40 of the Consolidated Laws - Part Three - Specific Offenses - Title M - Offenses Against Public Health and Morals - Artcle 220 - Controlled Substances Offenses.
Section 220.03 - Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses a controlled substance.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree is a class A misdemeanor.
Section 220.06 - Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses:
- a controlled substance with intent to sell it; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic preparation and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more; or
- phencyclidine and said phencyclidine weighs fifty milligrams or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing concentrated cannabis as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision four of section thirty-three hundred two of the public health law and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-fourth ounce or more; or
- cocaine and said cocaine weighs five hundred milligrams or more; or
- ketamine and said ketamine weighs more than one thousand milligrams; or
- ketamine and has previously been convicted of possession or the attempt to commit possession of ketamine in any amount; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing gamma hydroxybutyric acid, as defined in paragraph four of subdivision (e) of schedule I of section thirty-three hundred six of the public health law, and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of twenty-eight grams or more.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree is a class D felony.
Section 220.09 - Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses:
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic preparation and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of two ounces or more; or
- a stimulant and said stimulant weighs one gram or more; or
- lysergic acid diethylamide and said lysergic acid diethylamide weighs one milligram or more; or
- a hallucinogen and said hallucinogen weighs twenty-five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogenic substance and said hallucinogenic substance weighs one gram or more; or
- a dangerous depressant and such dangerous depressant weighs ten ounces or more; or
- a depressant and such depressant weighs two pounds or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing concentrated cannabis as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision four of section thirty-three hundred two of the public health law and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one ounce or more; or
- phencyclidine and said phencyclidine weighs two hundred fifty milligrams or more; or
- methadone and said methadone weighs three hundred sixty milligrams or more; or
- phencyclidine and said phencyclidine weighs fifty milligrams or more with intent to sell it and has previously been convicted of an offense defined in this article or the attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense; or
- ketamine and said ketamine weighs four thousand milligrams or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing gamma hydroxybutyric acid, as defined in paragraph four of subdivision (e) of schedule I of section thirty-three hundred six of the public health law, and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of two hundred grams or more.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree is a class C felony.
Section 220.16 - Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses:
- a narcotic drug with intent to sell it; or
- a stimulant, hallucinogen, hallucinogenic substance, or lysergic acid diethylamide, with intent to sell it and has previously been convicted of an offense defined in article two hundred twenty or the attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense; or
- a stimulant with intent to sell it and said stimulant weighs one gram or more; or
- lysergic acid diethylamide with intent to sell it and said lysergic acid diethylamide weighs one milligram or more; or
- a hallucinogen with intent to sell it and said hallucinogen weighs twenty- five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogenic substance with intent to sell it and said hallucinogenic substance weighs one gram or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers with intent to sell it and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more; or
- a stimulant and said stimulant weighs five grams or more; or
- lysergic acid diethylamide and said lysergic acid diethylamide weighs five milligrams or more; or
- 1a hallucinogen and said hallucinogen weighs one hundred twenty-five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogenic substance and said hallucinogenic substance weighs five grams or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more; or
- phencyclidine and said phencyclidine weighs one thousand two hundred fifty milligrams or more.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree is a class B felony.
Section 220.18 - Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses:
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of two ounces or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of two ounces or more; or
- a stimulant and said stimulant weighs ten grams or more; or
- lysergic acid diethylamide and said lysergic acid diethylamide weighs twenty-five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogen and said hallucinogen weighs six hundred twenty-five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogenic substance and said hallucinogenic substance weighs twenty-five grams or more; or
- methadone and said methadone weighs two thousand eight hundred eighty milligrams or more.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree is a class A-II felony.
Section 220.21 - Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree when he knowingly and unlawfully possesses:
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of four ounces or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of two ounces or more; or
- methadone and said methadone weighs five thousand seven hundred sixty milligrams or more.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree is a class A-I felony.
Section 220.31 - Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree when he knowingly and unlawfully sells a controlled substance.
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree is a class D felony.
Section 220.34 - Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree when he knowingly and unlawfully sells:
- a narcotic preparation; or
- a dangerous depressant or a depressant and the dangerous depressant weighs ten ounces or more, or the depressant weighs two pounds or more; or
- concentrated cannabis as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision four of section thirty-three hundred two of the public health law; or
- phencyclidine and the phencyclidine weighs fifty milligrams or more; or
- methadone; or
- any amount of phencyclidine and has previously been convicted of an offense defined in this article or the attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense; or
- ketamine and said ketamine weighs four thousand milligrams or more; or
- a controlled substance in violation of section 220.31 of this article, when such sale takes place upon school grounds; or
- a controlled substance in violation of section 220.31 of this article, when such sale takes place upon the grounds of a child day care or educational facility under circumstances evincing knowledge by the defendant that such sale is taking place upon such grounds. As used in this subdivision, the phrase "the grounds of a child day care or educational facility" shall have the same meaning as provided for in subdivision five of section 220.44 of this article. For the purposes of this subdivision, a rebuttable presumption shall be established that a person has knowledge that they are within the grounds of a child day care or educational facility when notice is conspicuously posted of the presence or proximity of such facility; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing gamma hydroxybutyric acid, as defined in paragraph four of subdivision (e) of schedule I of section thirty-three hundred six of the public health law, and said preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of twenty-eight grams or more.
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree is a class C felony.
Section 220.39 - Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree when he knowingly and unlawfully sells:
- a narcotic drug; or
- a stimulant, hallucinogen, hallucinogenic substance, or lysergic acid diethylamide and has previously been convicted of an offense defined in article two hundred twenty or the attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense; or
- a stimulant and the stimulant weighs one gram or more; or
- lysergic acid diethylamide and the lysergic acid diethylamide weighs one milligram or more; or
- a hallucinogen and the hallucinogen weighs twenty-five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogenic substance and the hallucinogenic substance weighs one gram or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and the preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more; or
- phencyclidine and the phencyclidine weighs two hundred fifty milligrams or more; or
- a narcotic preparation to a person less than twenty-one years old.
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree is a class B felony.
Section 220.41 - Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree when he knowingly and unlawfully sells:
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and the preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more; or
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing methamphetamine, its salts, isomers or salts of isomers and the preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more; or
- a stimulant and the stimulant weighs five grams or more; or
- lysergic acid diethylamide and the lysergic acid diethylamide weighs five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogen and the hallucinogen weighs one hundred twenty-five milligrams or more; or
- a hallucinogenic substance and the hallucinogenic substance weighs five grams or more; or
- methadone and the methadone weighs three hundred sixty milligrams or more.
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree is a class A-II felony.
Section 220.43 - Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree »»»
A person is guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree when he knowingly and unlawfully sells:
- one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing a narcotic drug and the preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances are of an aggregate weight of two ounces or more; or
- methadone and the methadone weighs two thousand eight hundred eighty milligrams or more.
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree is a class A-I felony
Section 220.44 - Criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds »»»
A person is guilty of criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds when he knowingly and unlawfully sells:
- a controlled substance in violation of any one of subdivisions one through six-a of section 220.34 of this article, when such sale takes place upon school grounds; or
- a controlled substance in violation of any one of subdivisions one through eight of section 220.39 of this article, when such sale takes place upon school grounds; or
- a controlled substance in violation of any one of subdivisions one through six of section 220.34 of this article, when such sale takes place upon the grounds of a child day care or educational facility under circumstances evincing knowledge by the defendant that such sale is taking place upon such grounds; or
- a controlled substance in violation of any one of subdivisions one through eight of section 220.39 of this article, when such sale takes place upon the grounds of a child day care or educational facility under circumstances evincing knowledge by the defendant that such sale is taking place upon such grounds.
- For purposes of subdivisions three and four of this section, "the grounds of a child day care or educational facility" means (a) in or on or within any building, structure, athletic playing field, a playground or land contained within the real property boundary line of a public or private child day care center as such term is defined in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of section three hundred ninety of the social services law, or nursery, pre-kindergarten, or kindergarten, or (b) any area accessible to the public located within one thousand feet of the real property boundary line comprising any such facility or any parked automobile or other parked vehicle located within one thousand feet of the real property boundary line comprising any such facility. For the purposes of this section an "area accessible to the public" shall mean sidewalks, streets, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, stores and restaurants.
- For the purposes of this section, a rebuttable presumption shall be established that a person has knowledge that they are within the grounds of a child day care or educational facility when notice is conspicuously posted of the presence or proximity of such facility.
Criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds is a class B felony.
Section 220.65 - Criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance »»»
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