Having 108 (1/4 lb) grams where I live in CT is considered a Class A Felony, with a maximum penalty of 20 years for State violations, not including Federal indictments.
I envy him, because where I live 10 months is nothing.
MARIJUANA PENALTIES
By: James Orlando, Associate Analyst
You asked about the penalties in Connecticut law for the possession or sale of marijuana, including penalties related to marijuana use with drug paraphernalia.
The tables below describe the penalties for the marijuana-related offenses you described.
PA 11-71 made changes involving penalties for certain marijuana offenses, including decriminalizing (1) the possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana and (2) specified paraphernalia-related acts involving less than one-half ounce.
In addition to the fines or criminal penalties described below, the law imposes other restrictions on people who are convicted of marijuana possession or other specified drug crimes. For example, such people may be denied licensure for a family day care home (CGS §
19a-87e) and are prohibited from obtaining licensure in other areas, such as bail enforcement (CGS §
29-152f). Under
PA 11-71, these restrictions do not apply to people convicted of possessing less than one-half ounce of marijuana.
The tables below only describe penalties that apply to marijuana or other cannabis-type substances, although in some cases the penalties are identical for offenses involving other controlled substances. Please see the statutes for a complete description of the offenses and penalties.
Table 1: Marijuana Possession
Description of Offense
Authorized Penalties
Possession of
less than one-half ounce of cannabis-type substance
Cite:
PA 11-71
First offense: $150 fine
Subsequent offenses: $200 to $500 fine (three-time violaters must attend drug education, at their own expense)
Violaters follow the procedures the law sets for infractions (e.g., they can pay the fine by mail)
60-day suspension of the driver's license or nonresident operating privileges of anyone under age 21 who is convicted of a violation (if the person does not have a license, he or she is ineligible for one for 150 days after meeting all licensing requirements)
Burden of proof is preponderance of the evidence (rather than beyond a reasonable doubt)
Possession of
at least one-half ounce but less than 4 oz. of cannabis-type substance
Cite: CGS §
21a-279(c), as amended by
PA 11-71
First offense: up to 1-year prison term, up to a $1,000 fine, or both
Subsequent offenses: up to 5-year prison term, up to a $3,000 fine, or both
Alternative sentence for subsequent offense: up to 3-year indeterminate prison term with conditional release by correction commissioner (CGS §
21a-279(e))
*Mandatory 2-year prison sentence running consecutively to prison term imposed for underlying offense if possession within 1,500 feet of (1) an elementary or secondary school by someone who is not attending the school or (2) a licensed day care center (CGS §
21a-279(d))
Possession of
at least 4 oz. of cannabis-type substance
Cite: CGS §
21a-279(b)
First offense: up to 5-year prison term, up to a $2,000 fine, or both
Subsequent offenses: up to 10-year prison term, up to a $5,000 fine, or both
Alternative sentence: up to 3-year indeterminate prison term with conditional release by correction commissioner (CGS §
21a-279(e))
*Mandatory 2-year prison sentence running consecutively to prison term imposed for underlying offense if possession within 1,500 feet of (1) an elementary or secondary school by someone who is not attending the school or (2) a licensed day care center
Manufactures, distributes, sells, prescribes, dispenses, compounds, transports with intent to sell or dispense, possesses with intent to sell or dispense, offers, or gives or administers to another person
any amount of a cannabis-type substance
Cite: CGS §
21a-277(b)
First offense: up to seven years in prison, up to a $25,000 fine, or both
Subsequent offenses: Up to 15 years in prison, up to $100,000 fine, or both
Alternative sentence: up to 3-year indeterminate prison term with conditional release by correction commissioner (CGS §
21a-277(d))
Mandatory 2-year prison term running consecutively to prison term imposed for violating the underlying crime if sale or other distribution is by non-addict adult to a minor at least two years younger (CGS §
21a-278a(a))
Mandatory 3-year prison term running consecutively to any prison term imposed for violating the underlying crime if (1) offense is committed within 1,500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, a licensed day care center, or a public housing project (CGS §
21a-278a(b))* or (2) a minor is hired or otherwise used to make the sale (CGS §
21a-278a(c))
Non-addict who manufactures, distributes, sells, prescribes, dispenses, compounds, transports with intent to sell or dispense, possesses with intent to sell or dispense, offers, gives, or administers to another person
at least 1 kilogram of a cannabis-type substance
Cite: CGS §
21a-278(b)
First offense: five to 20 years in prison
Subsequent offenses: 10 to 25 years in prison
Court cannot suspend the sentence below the mandatory minimum unless the offender was under age 18 or significantly mentally impaired at time of offense
Mandatory 2-year prison term running consecutively to prison term imposed for violating the underlying crime if sale or other distribution is by non-addict adult to a minor at least two years younger (CGS §
21a-278a(a))
Mandatory 3-year prison term running consecutively to any prison term imposed for violating the underlying crime if (1) offense is committed within 1,500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, a licensed day care center, or a public housing project (CGS §
21a-278a(b))* or (2) a minor is hired or otherwise used to make the sale (CGS §
21a-278a(c))
Moral of the story is Canada is easy compared to a lot of places, just don't get arrested in CT, or you will be fucked
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