{"id":371959,"date":"2016-10-07T13:54:27","date_gmt":"2016-10-07T18:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-drug-trafficking-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-10-24T14:36:07","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T19:36:07","slug":"colorado-drug-trafficking-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-drug-trafficking-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Drug Trafficking Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Colorado Drug Trafficking Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/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

When comparing state laws, Colorado drug laws for possession or use are some of the most progressive in the nation. Colorado is as harsh as any other state when it comes to drug trafficking.<\/p>\r\n

Drug trafficking is often defined as the transportation and sale<\/a> of large amounts of drugs. Possession for distribution or sale charges stem from having more than personal use but less than an amount for trafficking. Trafficking is often considered a federal offense and something that goes outside state boundaries.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado’s laws make it a misdemeanor to possess less than four grams of heroin. It is a felony to sell or transfer any amount over seven grams. The federal quantity for trafficking begins at 100 grams. Other drugs have similar scales.<\/p>\r\n

Most states do not have specific drug offenses for trafficking. If the offense involves large enough quantities or movement outside the state, law enforcement notifies the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado Drug Trafficking Laws<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Colorado drug possession statutes categorize drug distribution by the type of drug and the amount of the substance in question. An arrest for a large amount of a Schedule III drug can have the same charge as a small amount of a Schedule I drug.<\/p>\r\n

Simple possession<\/a> is possession of a controlled substance in any amount under 4 grams of any substance. An easy way to stay on the legal side of drug possession and distribution laws is to know what drug schedules<\/a> mean. The classifications include legal and illegal drugs. These include:<\/p>\r\n