Penalties for Possession of Marijuana
Salt Lake City Utah Drug Possession Defense Attorneys
Possession of Marijuana
The penalties for possession of marijuana in Utah depends upon the whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. How you are charged is based upon the weight of the drug in your possession. Regardless of whether you are charged with possession or (sale) distribution of marijuana, or sale/possession of drug paraphernalia, your driver’s license will be suspended for six months if you are convicted of any marijuana-related charges.
If you have been caught with marijuana in your possession, you could be facing jail time and a stiff fine. Our criminal defense attorneys are here to help. We may be able have the charges against you reduced through a plea bargain, or dismissed. Contact our criminal defense law office today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Penalties for Possession of Marijuana in Utah
If you are convicted, the following chart shows penalties you could be facing.
| Amount in Your Possession | Charge | Possible Penalties |
| Possession of 1 oz of marijuana or less | Class B Misdemeanor | Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 6 months with a fine of $1,000 |
| Possession of between 1 oz and 1 lb of marijuana | Class A Misdemeanor | Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 1 year with a fine of $2,500 |
| Possession of between 1 lb and 100 lbs of marijuana | Third Degree Felony | Penalties include incarceration for a period of up to 5 years with a fine of $5,000 |
| Possession of greater than 100 lbs | Second Degree Felony | Penalties include incarceration for a period of 1 to 15 years with a fine of $10,000 |
If you are a repeat offender, the charge penalties can be increased by one degree or level.
Utah Marijuana Drug Possession Laws
In addition to possessing marijuana ready to be smoked, growing plants is also illegal. Under the Utah Drug Dealer’s Liability Act, possession of marijuana is defined by the level of offense. A level 1 offense, is the most serious offense:
Title 58. Occupations and Professions; Chapter 37e. Drug Dealer’s Liability Act
Section 2.58-37e-2. Definitions.
(5) “Level 1 offense” means possession of 16 ounces or more or distribution of four ounces or more of a mixture containing a specified illegal drug or possession of 16 pounds or more or 100 plants or more or distribution of 10 pounds or more of marijuana.
(6) “Level 2 offense” means possession of eight ounces or more, but less than 16 ounces, or distribution of two ounces or more, but less than four ounces, of a mixture containing a specified illegal drug or possession of eight pounds or more or 75 plants or more, but less than 16 pounds or 100 plants, or distribution of more than five pounds, but less than 10 pounds of marijuana.
(7) “Level 3 offense” means possession of four ounces or more, but less than eight ounces, or distribution of one ounce or more, but less than two ounces, of a mixture containing a specified illegal drug or possession of four pounds or more or 50 plants or more, but less than eight pounds or 75 plants, or distribution of more than one pound, but less than five pounds of marijuana.
(8) “Level 4 offense” means possession of 1/4 ounce or more, but less than four ounces, or distribution of less than one ounce of a mixture containing a specified illegal drug or possession of one pound or more or 25 plants or more, but less than four pounds or 50 plants, or distribution of less than one pound of marijuana.
You Deserve the Best Legal Defense From Someone Who Cares About The Outcome of Your Case
We understand that you may think smoking “pot” for your own personal reasons is not a big deal. But we also know that prosecutors think any illegal drug use is a big deal and take possession of marijuana charges seriously, especially if you are caught growing marijuana, or distributing it. The prosecutor will work hard to prove your guilt and may push for the maximum sentence possible — we are defense attorneys, and that means we are on your side and will work hard to get you the best possible outcome.
Our criminal defense attorneys are trial lawyers. We have years of experience to our credit and we’re ready to put it to use in your case. We invite you to contact our Salt Lake City law office to schedule a free initial consultation. Call (801) 363-8500 or complete our simple online form to tell us about your case.
