Legal Sanctions for Drug Abuse and Commonly Abused Drug Information
Applicable Federal Sanctions
Trafficking of scheduled drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, morphine, and other narcotics result in a minimum of five years jail sentences and up to 40 years for first offenses. First offenses result in fines of up to $5 million for an individual. Second offenses result in jail sentences of a minimum 10 years and fines up to $8 million for an individual.
Marijuana trafficking carry charges that result in jail sentences of five, 10, or 40 years, and up to life in prison, depending on amount trafficked, damages occurred, and intent. Fines ranging from $250,000 to $10 million are possible.
More information can be found the following charts, taken from this informative Drug Enforcement Agency document (Drugs of Abuse, A DEA Resource Guide: 2020 EDITION).
A list of and detailed information about commonly abused drugs is available at https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs-charts.
Applicable Colorado Sanctions
Alcohol sanctions reaching petty and misdemeanor charges include having driver’s license revoked, community service or probation, and fines up to $1,500.
Scheduled drugs such as cocaine, heroin, morphine, and other narcotics include felony and misdemeanor charges which equate to 6 months to 32 year jail terms or parole sentences and fines from $1,000 up to $1 million dollars depending on aggravating factors.
Marijuana public consumption, possession and distribution include felony and misdemeanor charges which equate to community service, parole or jail sentences ranging from 6 months up to 32 years depending on offense. Fines from $50 up to $1 million dollars have been given depending on the offense and aggravating factors.
