Iowa possession of controlled substance 3rd or subsq offense

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  • Drugged Driving
  • Low THC
  • Mandatory Minimum Sentence
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OffensePenaltyIncarceration  Max. Fine  

Possession

Any amount (first offense) Misdemeanor 6 months $ 1,000
Any amount (second offense) Misdemeanor 1 year $ 1,875
Any amount (third offense) Misdemeanor 2 years $ 6,250
Offenders who are chronic abusers of marijuana may be sent to rehab.

Cultivation or Distribution

50 kg or less Felony 5 years $ 7,500
More than 50 - 100 kg Felony 10 years $ 50,000
More than 100 - 1000 kg Felony 25 years $ 100,000
More than 1000 kg Felony 50 years $ 1,000,000
Involving a minor Felony 5* - 25 years $ 100,000
To a minor within 1000 feet of a park, elementary or middle school, or school bus Felony 10 years* $ 100,000
* Mandatory minimum sentence
Distribution includes possession with intent to distribute

Hash & Concentrates

Penalties for hashish are the same as for marijuana except in one circumstance. Please see the marijuana penalties section for further details.

Paraphernalia

Possession, distribution, or manufacture of paraphernalia Misdemeanor 6 months $ 1,000

Miscellaneous

Sponsoring, promoting, or assisting in a gathering where marijuana will be used, distributed, or possessed Misdemeanor 1 year $ 1,875
Possession with intent to sell large amounts can lead to an automatic driver's license suspension.

Penalty Details

Marijuana is a schedule I hallucinogenic substance under the Iowa Controlled Substances Act.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.204(4)(m)

Possession for Personal Use

For first offenders, possession of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months of imprisonment. Second offenders are subject to a fine of $315-$1875 and/or up to 1 year of imprisonment. Third offenses are considered aggravated misdemeanors and are punishable by a fine of $625-$6250 and/or up to 2 years of imprisonment.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.401(c)(5)
  • Iowa Code § 903.1
  • Iowa Code § 124.409

Offenders who are chronic abusers of marijuana may be sent to rehab. If this program is successfully completed the court may place the defendant on probation.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.409

Possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of an elementary school, secondary school, public park, or school bus is punishable by the penalty for possession and 100 hours of community service.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.401B

Cultivation or Distribution

Distribution of marijuana includes possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it.

Delivery or possession with intent to deliver one half ounce or less of plant-form marijuana without remuneration is equivalent to simple possession in Iowa, with penalties for a first offense being a misdemeanor with incarceration of no more than 6 months, and a fine of no more than $1000 dollars. Subsequent convictions for delivery without remuneration will be punished more severely, just as subsequent simple possession convictions would be.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.410

Distribution or cultivation of 50 kilograms of marijuana or less is a class D felony punishable by a fine of $750-$7,500 and up to 5 years of imprisonment. Distribution or cultivation of more than 50-100 kilograms of marijuana is a class C felony and is punishable by a fine of $1,000-$50,000 and up to 10 years of imprisonment. Distribution or cultivation of more than 100-1,000 kilograms of marijuana is a class B felony and is punishable by a fine of $5,000-$100,000 and up to 25 years of imprisonment. Distribution or cultivation of more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana is a class B felony and is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000,000 and up to 50 years of imprisonment.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.401

If a person over the age of 18 solicits a person under the age of 18 to assist in the distribution or cultivation of marijuana this act is punishable as a class C felony by a fine of $1,000-$50,000 and up to 10 years of imprisonment.

If a person over the age of 18 distributes marijuana to someone under the age of 18 this constitutes a Class B felony punishable by a fine of $5,000-$100,000 and up to 25 years of imprisonment, in addition a mandatory minimum term of 5 years will apply. If the sale to a minor occurs within 1,000 feet of a park, elementary school, middle school, or marked school bus a mandatory minimum term of 10 years will apply.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.406

Hash & Concentrates

Iowa classifies Marijuana and Tetrahydrocannabinols separately as hallucinogenic substances in Schedule 1 of the Iowa Controlled Substances Schedule. For the purposes of criminal justice, plant Marijuana and all Tetrahydrocannabinol derivatives thereof, including hashish and marijuana concentrates, are defined as Marijuana and punished equally in all but one circumstance. The only circumstance where plant-form Marijuana is treated differently is for a charge of delivery or possession with intent to deliver one half ounce or less without remuneration. In that circumstance, plant-form marijuana is punished equivalent to the penalties for simple possession, whereas delivery, or possession with intent to deliver an equivalent amount of hashish, hash oil, or other derivatives are punished in accordance with the regular penalties for distribution.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.101
  • Iowa Code § 124.204
  • Iowa Code § 124.401
  • Iowa Code § 124.410

Paraphernalia

Possession, distribution, or manufacture of marijuana paraphernalia is simple misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months imprisonment. Paraphernalia includes any item that is knowingly used to ingest, inhale, manufacture, enhance, or test marijuana quality.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.414

Miscellaneous

Sponsoring, promoting, or assisting in the sponsorship or promotion of a gathering with the knowledge that marijuana will be used, distributed, or possessed at that event is a serious misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $315-$1875 and/or up to 1 year of imprisonment.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.407

Possession with intent to sell large amounts of pot (100-1000kg) can lead to an automatic driver’s license suspension.

See

  • Iowa Code § 124.401(1)(6)

Is possession of a controlled substance a felony in Iowa?

POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE Iowa Code § 124.401(5)--A first offense conviction for possession of any controlled substance (except marijuana) is a serious misdemeanor with a fine of at least $250, but not more than $1,500; in addition, the court may order imprisonment up to one year.

How much is a possession charge in Iowa?

On your first-offense possession charge, you could be imposed fines of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail. There is a mandatory 48-hour period minimum in jail. There are ways around the 48-hour minimum jail time if this is your first offense, but it usually requires being placed on probation.

What are the penalties for using drugs in Iowa?

Penalties include a fine of between $315 and $1,875, up to one year in jail, or both. Second conviction. A second conviction is an aggravated misdemeanor. Penalties include a fine of between $625 and $6,250 and one year in jail; or no fine and up to two years in prison.

What is the penalty for a Class B felony in Iowa?

Class "B" Felonies A class "B" felony is typically punishable by up to 25 years in prison. First degree burglary is an example of a class "B" felony. (Iowa Code § 902.9 (2019).)