Felony Drug Charges in St Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota law and authorities take drug crimes very seriously. Many drug crimes are charged as felonies, and a conviction can have both immediate and lasting effects on your life. In recent years, Minnesota law revamped its drug laws to institute a separate sentencing grid for drug offenses, rather than using the standard felony sentencing guidelines. However, the potential penalties for felony drug offenses remain serious, and you should immediately contact a St. Paul Criminal Defense Lawyer if you are arrested on suspicion of any type of drug crime.

First, major drug crimes generally involve either the possession of drugs or the sale of drugs, which also includes possession with the intent to sell drugs. The following are overviews of the felony drug crimes and possible penalties in Minnesota, from least severe to most severe. However, remember that even the least severe felony is still a felony, and a conviction should be avoided whenever you can.

Controlled Substance Crimes in the 5th Degree

5th-degree crimes can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. These include the following:

• Possession of any amount of a substance in Schedules I through IV, with the exception of fewer than 42.5 grams of marijuana.
• Sale/intent to sell any Schedule IV drug or any amount of marijuana, with the exception of transferring small amounts of marijuana for no payment.

Controlled Substance Crimes in the 4th Degree

These offenses can mean up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, and they include:

• Possession of:
  • 10 doses of a hallucinogen
  • Possession with intent to sell any amount of Schedule I through III substances (not including marijuana)
• Sale of:
  • Any Schedule I through III drugs (not including marijuana)
  • Marijuana near a school, park, or public housing
  • Schedule IV drugs to minors under age 18

Controlled Substance Crimes in the 3rd Degree

3rd-degree drug offenses can result in up to 20 years in prison with fines up to $250,000. These include:

• Possession of:
  • At least three grams of heroin
  • At least 10 grams of other narcotics
  • At least 10 kilograms of marijuana
  • At least five doses of Schedule I or II narcotics near a school, park, or public housing
• Sale of:
  • Any amount of any narcotic
  • At least five kilograms of marijuana
  • At least 10 doses of a hallucinogen
  • Any Schedule I or II substance to a minor

Controlled Substance Crimes in the 2nd Degree

A conviction for this level of felony drug offense comes with a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. If you have a previous felony drug conviction, there is a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years. These crimes include:

• Possession of:
  • At least six grams of heroin
  • At least 25 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine
  • At least 50 grams of any other narcotic
  • At least 100 doses of a hallucinogen
  • At least 25 kilograms of marijuana or 100 plants
• Sale of:
  • At least three grams of heroin
  • At least 10 grams of any other narcotic
  • At least 10 kilograms of marijuana
  • At least 50 doses of a hallucinogen
  • Any Schedule I or II narcotics to a minor or near a school, park, or public housing

Controlled Substance Crimes in the 1st Degree

1st-degree drug crimes are the most serious without the presence of aggravating factors. These convictions can mean up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If you have a previous felony drug conviction, there is a mandatory minimum prison sentence of four years. 1st-degree felony drug offenses include:

• Possession of:
  • At least 25 grams of heroin
  • At least 50 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine
  • At least 50 kilograms of marijuana or 500 plants
• Sale of:
  • At least 10 grams of heroin
  • At least 17 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine
  • At least 50 grams of any other narcotic
  • At least 25 kilograms of marijuana
  • At least 200 doses of a hallucinogen

Aggravated Offenses

There are also circumstances under which you can face aggravated drug charges, which come with enhanced penalties. One example of an aggravated offense is the manufacture of any amount of methamphetamine. Other aggravating factors may include multiple sales within a 90-day period or the presence of a firearm during a drug sale.

Don’t Wait to Contact Our St. Paul Criminal Defense Lawyers

Any felony drug conviction can result in years behind bars and costly fines, as well as many lasting collateral consequences. The good news is that the right criminal defense lawyer in St. Paul can help defend against your charges and minimize or eliminate the penalties you face. We can present various legal defenses and fight against aggravating factors when needed.

For information about how the St Paul Criminal Defense Lawyers at Capitol City Law Group can help you fight your serious drug charges, call 651-212-4073 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation right away.