{"id":371316,"date":"2024-10-21T13:02:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T18:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alabama-law\/alabama-drug-trafficking-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-10-23T16:07:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T21:07:49","slug":"alabama-drug-trafficking-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alabama-law\/alabama-drug-trafficking-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Drug Trafficking Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alabama Drug Trafficking Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Drug trafficking refers to the sale, delivery, or distribution of drugs. Every state criminalizes drug trafficking, although the laws vary from state to state. In Alabama, most drug trafficking crimes are felonies. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The applicable criminal penalty for a drug trafficking conviction depends on the type of drug and the quantity of drugs involved. The most severe offense is a mandatory life sentence in prison.
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This article summarizes Alabama’s drug trafficking laws and criminal penalties. For more information, visit the Related Resources section below. If you face drug trafficking charges, contact an Alabama criminal defense attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Drug Trafficking Laws: Overview<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The table below lists Alabama’s laws regarding drug trafficking offenses. For more information about drug trafficking cases and other drug offenses, visit the links in the Related Resources section below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Code Section<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Alabama Code \u00a7 13A-12-231<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Cannabis (Marijuana)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of cannabis into Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and is subject to the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • More than one kilogram (or 2.2 pounds) but less than 100 pounds of marijuana:<\/b> Mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of three calendar years and a $25,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(1)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 100 or more pounds but less than 500 pounds:<\/b> Mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(1)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 500 or more pounds but less than 1,000 pounds:<\/b> Mandatory prison sentence of 15 years and a $200,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(1)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 1000 or more pounds:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-231(1)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Cocaine<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of cocaine (or a mixture containing cocaine) into Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • 28 or more grams of cocaine but less than 500 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(2)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 500 or more grams but less than 1,000 grams (one kilogram):<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(2)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 1,000 or more grams (one kilogram) but less than 10,000 grams (10 kilograms):<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a $250,000 fine. (\u00a7 13A-12-231(2)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 10 kilograms or more:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence. (\u00a7 13A-12-231(2)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Opium and Heroin<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person (except those authorized by law) who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of morphine, opium, heroin, a mixture containing fentanyl, or another synthetic controlled substance, or any of their salts or isomers, is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

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  • Four grams or more but less than 14 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(3)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 14 or more grams but less than 28 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(3)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 28 or more grams but less than 56 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a $500,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(3)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 56 or more grams:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-231(3)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Methaqualone (Quaaludes)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of methaqualone (e.g., Quaaludes, Sopor) is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

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  • 1,000 pills or capsules but less than 5,000:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(4)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 5,000 or more capsules but less than 25,000:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(4)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 25,000 pills or more but less than 100,000 pills or capsules:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a $500,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(4)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 100,000 or more capsules:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-231(4)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Hydromorphone (Opioid)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of hydromorphone into Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

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  • 500 pills or capsules but less than 1,000:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(5)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 1,000 or more pills or capsules, but less than 4,000:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(5)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 4,000 or more pills or capsules but less than 10,000:<\/b> mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(5)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • More than 10,000 pills or capsules:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-231(5)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Phencyclidine (PCP)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of PCP into Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

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  • Four grams or more but less than 14 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(8)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 14 or more grams but less than 28 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(8)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 28 or more grams but less than 56 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a $250,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(8)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 56 or more grams:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-231(8)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

LSD<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of LSD into the state of Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following punishments:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Four or more grams but less than 14 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(9)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 14 or more grams but less than 28 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(9)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 28 or more grams but less than 56 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a $500,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-231(9)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 56 or more grams:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-231(9)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Methamphetamine<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings the following amounts of methamphetamine into Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • 28 grams or more but less than 500 grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(11)(a))<\/li>\r\n
  • 500 or more grams but less than 1,000 grams<\/b> (one kilogram)<\/b>: Mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(11)(b))<\/li>\r\n
  • 1,000 or more grams (one kilogram) but less than 10,000 grams (10 kilograms):<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a $250,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(11)(c))<\/li>\r\n
  • 10,000 grams (10 kilograms) or more:<\/b> Mandatory life sentence (\u00a7 13A-12-23(11)(d))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Fentanyl<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who knowingly sells, delivers, or brings fentanyl or a controlled substance fentanyl analogue as a single component into Alabama is guilty of a Class A felony and faces the following penalties:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • One gram or more but less than two grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of three years and a $50,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(13)(a)(1))<\/li>\r\n
  • Two or more grams but less than four grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a $100,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(13)(a)(2))<\/li>\r\n
  • Four or more grams but less than eight grams:<\/b> Mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a $500,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(13)(a)(3))<\/li>\r\n
  • Eight grams or more:<\/b> mandatory life sentence and a $750,000 fine (\u00a7 13A-12-23(13)(a)(4))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Other trafficking offenses<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Alabama provides other penalties for trafficking the following controlled substances:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamines (\u00a7 13A-12-23(6))<\/li>\r\n
  • 5-methoxy-3, 4-methylenedioxy amphetamines (\u00a7 13A-12-23(7))<\/li>\r\n
  • Amphetamines (\u00a7 13A-12-23(10))<\/li>\r\n
  • A synthetic controlled substance or a synthetic controlled substance analog (\u00a7 13A-12-23(12))<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Aggravating factors<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Any person who possesses a firearm during the commission of a trafficking offense faces at least five years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine in addition to any other applicable punishment. (\u00a7 13A-12-23(16))<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Note: State laws are subject to change through new legislation, court decisions, and other means. Contact an <\/i>Alabama criminal defense attorney<\/i><\/a> to learn how these laws might impact your unique situation.<\/i><\/p>\r\n

Alabama Drug Trafficking Laws: Related Resources<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Browse the following links for more information about Alabama’s drug laws:<\/p>\r\n