|
State
|
Overall Rank
|
Rank for
1 ounce Penalties |
1 ounce (1)
|
2 ounces
|
3 ounces
|
4 ounces
|
| Alabama | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($6,000) |
1 year ($6,000) |
1 year ($6,000) |
1 year ($6,000) |
| Alaska | 46 | 12 | legal, no penalty | 6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
| Arizona | 12 | 2 | 1.5 years ($150,000) |
1.5 years ($150,000) |
1.5 years ($150,000) |
1.5 years ($150,000) |
| Arkansas | 3 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
10 years ($25,000) |
10 years ($25,000) |
10 years ($25,000) |
| California | 46 | 12 | fine only ($100) |
6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
| Colorado | 41 | 12 | fine only ($100) |
1.5 years ($5,000) |
1.5 years ($5,000) |
1.5 years ($5,000) |
| Connecticut | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
| Delaware | 34 | 4 | 6 months ($1150) |
6 months ($1150) |
6 months ($1150) |
6 months ($1150) |
| District Of Columbia | 34 | 4 | 6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | 5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
| Georgia | 4 | 12 | probation | 10 years (variable) |
10 years (variable) |
10 years (variable) |
| Hawaii | 42 | 9 | 30 days ($1,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
| Idaho | 14 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
5 years ($10,000) |
| Illinois (2) | 9 | 3 | 1 year ($2500) |
3 years ($25,000) |
3 years ($25,000) |
3 years ($25,000) |
| Indiana | 9 | 3 | 1 year ($5,000) |
3 years ($10,000) |
3 years ($10,000) |
3 years ($10,000) |
| Iowa | 34 | 4 | 6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
| Kansas | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
| Kentucky | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($500) |
1 year ($500) |
1 year ($500) |
1 year ($500) |
| Louisiana | 34 | 4 | 6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
| Maine | 45 | 12 | fine only ($600) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
| Maryland | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
| Massachusetts | 46 | 12 | fine only ($100) |
6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
| Michigan | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
| Minnesota | 13 | 12 | fine only ($200) |
5 years ($10,000) |
5 years ($10,000) |
5 years ($10,000) |
| Mississippi | 29 | 12 | fine only ($250) |
3 years ($3,000) |
3 years ($3,000) |
3 years ($3,000) |
| Missouri | 6 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
7 years ($5,000) |
7 years ($5,000) |
7 years ($5,000) |
| Montana | 2 | 4 | 6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
20 years ($50,000) |
20 years ($50,000) |
| Nebraska (3) | 50 | 11 | 7 days ($500) |
7 days ($500) |
7 days ($500) |
7 days ($500) |
| Nevada | 16 | 12 | fine only ($600) |
4 years ($5,000) |
4 years ($5,000) |
4 years ($5,000) |
| New Hampshire | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
1 year ($2,000) |
| New Jersey | 30 | 4 | 6 months ($1,000) |
1.5 years ($25,000) |
1.5 years ($25,000) |
1.5 years ($25,000) |
| New Mexico | 44 | 10 | 15 days ($100) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
| New York (4) | 40 | 7 | 3 months ($500) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
| North Carolina | 33 | 6 | 120 days ($500) |
1 year (Variable) |
1 year (Variable) |
1 year (Variable) |
| North Dakota | 7 | 3 | 1 year ($2,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
| Ohio | 51 | 12 | fine only ($100) |
fine only ($100) |
fine only ($100) |
30 days ($250) |
| Oklahoma | 19 | 3 | 1 year (Variable) |
1 year (Variable) |
1 year (Variable) |
1 year (Variable) |
| Oregon | 4 | 12 | fine only ($1,000) |
10 years ($100,000) |
10 years ($100,000) |
10 years ($100,000) |
| Pennsylvania | 42 | 9 | 30 days ($500) |
1 year ($5,000) |
1 year ($5,000) |
1 year ($5,000) |
| Rhode Island | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($500) |
1 year ($500) |
1 year ($500) |
1 year ($500) |
| South Carolina | 11 | 9 | 30 days ($200) |
5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
5 years ($5,000) |
| South Dakota | 17 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
2 years ($2,000) |
2 years ($2,000) |
| Tennessee | 19 | 3 | 1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
| Texas | 32 | 5 | 180 days ($2,000) |
180 days ($2,000) |
1 year ($4,000) |
1 year ($4,000) |
| Utah | 31 | 4 | 6 months ($1,000) |
1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
1 year ($2500) |
| Vermont | 18 | 4 | 6 months ($500) |
6 months ($500) |
3 years ($10,000) |
3 years ($10,000) |
| Virginia | 49 | 9 | 30 days ($500) |
30 days ($500) |
30 days ($500) |
30 days ($500) |
| Washington | 8 | 8 | 90 days ($500) |
5 years ($10,000) |
5 years ($10,000) |
5 years ($10,000) |
| West Virginia (5) | 34 | 4 | 6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
| Wisconsin | 34 | 4 | 6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
6 months ($1,000) |
| Wyoming | 14 | 3 | 1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
1 year ($1,000) |
5 years ($10,000) |
Notes:
(1) To simplify comparisons, for some states this category covers amounts just under 1 ounce
(2) 2.5 grams or less carries a penalty of up to 30 days and a maximum fine of $1,500; 2.5 grams to 10 grams carries a penalty of up to 6 months and a maximum fine of $1,500.
(3) less than 1 ounce carries a fine of $300 and no jail time
(4) 25 grams or less is a fine of $100 with no jail time
(5) possession of less than 15 grams provides for a conditional discharge and a fine of up to $1,500
Rankings are based on the severity of punishment and were calculated based on the maximum number of days allowed by state law for the listed quantities of marijuana. The overall ranking is based on a weighted index for the four quantity levels. The weighting used in this index was: 70% for penalties for 1 ounce and 10% each for the penalties for 2, 3, and 4 ounces.
ImpacTeen Illicit Drug Team. Illicit drug policies: Selected laws from the 50 states. Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University, 2002. http://www.impacteen.org/generalarea_PDFs/IDTchartbook032103.pdf
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). State by State Laws. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4516
Selected State Criminal Codes