what is drug possesion in california?
TRANSCRIPT
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What is Drug Possession
in California?
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Drug Possession is
charged under Health
& Safety Code
section 11350
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How do you violate
Health & Safety Code
section 11350?
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Possess an unprescribed narcotic drug
OR controlled substance.
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POSSESSION IS REQUIRED to violate this law
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2 kinds of possession:
Having the
substance at the
present moment or
in hand
Constructive PossessionActive Possession
Having control over the
substance (which is storing the
substance somewhere else
other than on hand, but still
having control over it)
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Under this law, it is illegal
to possess certain drugs
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What drugs are illegal?
1. Controlled SubstancesFor Example:
• Ectasy (MDMA, etc.)
• Cocaine
• PCP
• Marijuana
• Heroin
• and hundreds more…
2. Unprescribed narcotic drugs
For Example:
• Vicodin
• Codeine
• Testosterone
• HGC
• Morphine
• and hundreds more…
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• A narcotic drug or controlled substance as a result
of a written prescription of a physician, dentist,
podiatrist, or veterinarian licensed to practice in
this state.
What drugs are legal?
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How Does the
Prosecutor Prove this
Charge?
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The prosecutor must prove you guilty of:
1. You [unlawfully] possessed a controlled substance;
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The prosecutor must prove you guilty of:
1. You [unlawfully] possessed a controlled substance;
2. You knew of its presence;
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The prosecutor must prove you guilty of:
1. You [unlawfully] possessed a controlled substance;
2. You knew of its presence;
3. You knew of the substance's nature or character as a controlled substance;
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The prosecutor must prove you guilty of:
1. You [unlawfully] possessed a controlled substance;
2. You knew of its presence;
3. You knew of the substance's nature or character as a controlled substance;
4. The controlled substance was cocaine (for example);
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The prosecutor must prove you guilty of:
1. You [unlawfully] possessed a controlled substance;
2. You knew of its presence;
3. You knew of the substance's nature or character as a controlled substance;
4. The controlled substance was cocaine (for example);
AND
5. The controlled substance was in a usable amount.
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What is “possession”?
• 2 or more people may possess
item at the same time.
• You do not have to actually hold
or touch something to possess
it.
IS Possession IS NOT Possession
• IS NOT simply agreeing to buy a
drug (that will not, alone, mean
you have control over item)
• NOT having any right to control
item, either personally or through
another person
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What is “knowledge”?
• The prosecutor does NOT
need to prove that the
defendant KNEW WHICH
specific controlled substance
you possessed
IS Knowledge IS NOT Knowledge
• The prosecutor DOES need
to prove that you were aware
of the substance’s presence
AND that it was a controlled
substance
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What is a “usable amount”?
IS A USABLE AMOUNT
• A quantity that is
enough to be used by
someone as a controlled
substance
IS NOT USABLE AMOUNT
• Useless traces (or debris)
ARE NOT usable amounts.
NOTE: A usable amount DOES NOT have to be enough, in either amount or strength, to affect the user.
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What if you are
found guilty under
Health & Safety Code
section 11350?
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Penalties
• Felony Conviction
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What is a felony
conviction?
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Consequences of a “felony”
• Weight & Stigma of being
deemed a “felon” under the law
• Lose right to possess firearm,
• Lose right to vote,
• Lose right to sit on a jury,
• Lose right to hold public office,
• Must provide law enforcement
with a DNA sample,
• Possible employment
consequences,
• Possible immigration
consequences, as a drug abuser, if
you are a noncitizen.
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• Felony Conviction
• 16 months-3 years in prison
Penalties
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• Felony Conviction
• 16 months-3 years in prison
• 3-5 years formal probation
Penalties
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What is probation?
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Formal Probation
• Suspension of your prison sentence
• Imposition of strict supervision by a Probation Officer, who
provides a Probation Report to the court
• Requires that you obey all laws
• Requires that you comply with the terms and conditions of
your probation, as designated by the court
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• Felony Conviction
• 16 months-3 years in prison
• 3-5 years formal probation
• Up to $10,000 in fines and fees
Penalties
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• Felony Conviction
• 16 months-3 years in prison
• 3-5 years formal probation
• Up to $10,000 in fines and fees
• AND additional terms and conditions depending on your circumstances…
Penalties
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Eligibility
• IS eligible for an Deferred Entry of Judgment sentence,
• IS NOT a “strikeable” offense,
• DOES require registration as a drug offender,
• IS eligible for Proposition 36 diversion
sentence.
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What is a
“Proposition 36”
diversion sentence?
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Proposition 36 states:
When a defendant is convicted of a “nonviolent drug possession offense,” under Prop. 36, the court must:
• Suspend the imposition of the sentence,
• Grant probation, and
• Require the defendant to participate in and complete a court-approved drug treatment program as a condition of probation.
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Are there any defenses to this
charge?
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Defenses
Based on your circumstances, the right attorney can provide applicable legal
defenses to your case. For example:
• Entrapment by law
enforcement officials
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Defenses
Based on your circumstances, the right attorney can provide applicable legal
defenses to your case. For example:
• ENTRAPMENT by law
enforcement officials
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Defenses
Based on your circumstances, the right attorney can provide applicable legal
defenses to your case. For example:
• Entrapment by law
enforcement officials
• The controlled substance was
PRESCRIBED by a doctor
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Defenses
Based on your circumstances, the right attorney can provide applicable legal
defenses to your case. For example:
• ENTRAPMENT by law
enforcement officials
• The controlled substance was
PRESCRIBED by a doctor
• You did not KNOW that the
item was a controlled
substance
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Defenses
Based on your circumstances, the right attorney can provide applicable legal
defenses to your case. For example:
• Entrapment by law
enforcement officials
• The controlled substance was
PRESCRIBED by a doctor
• You did not KNOW that the
item was a controlled
substance
• You did not POSSESS the
controlled substance
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Defenses
Based on your circumstances, the right attorney can provide applicable legal
defenses to your case. For example:
• ENTRAPMENT by law
enforcement officials
• The controlled substance was
PRESCRIBED by a doctor
• You did not KNOW that the
item was a controlled
substance
• You did not POSSESS the
controlled substance
• There is a lack of sufficient
evidence to find you guilty under
this charge
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