{"id":376121,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/rhode-island-law\/rhode-island-cocaine-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:48:54","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:48:54","slug":"rhode-island-cocaine-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/rhode-island-law\/rhode-island-cocaine-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Rhode Island Cocaine Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Rhode Island Cocaine Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\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

The trafficking, sale, and possession of cocaine are illegal in all states (and under federal drug laws). Cocaine is classified as either a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance in most states, meaning it has a relatively high potential for abuse and also carries the stiffest penalties for violations. <\/p>\n

While some states<\/a> impose harsh prison sentences for even simple possession of small amounts of the drug, a growing number of states has implemented drug courts as an alternative to prison for non-violent offenders who agree to enter drug rehabilitation. While federal law also prohibits illicit drugs, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) focuses primarily on organized crime and interstate cases.<\/p>\n

Rhode Island Cocaine Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\n

Rhode Island imposes lesser sentences for individuals who plead no contest ("nolo contendere") to minor cocaine charges, whereby the offender completes 100 hours of community service and a drug education program. The state also has lighter sentences for convicted drug dealers who are drug dependent than for those who are not.<\/p>\n

Drug courts offer non-violent drug offenders the option of entering drug rehabilitation and submitting to regular drug testing instead of serving prison time. Find out if a drug court program<\/a> is available in your county.<\/p>\n

Additional details of Rhode Island’s cocaine laws are listed in the table below. See FindLaw’s Drug Charges<\/a> section to learn more.<\/p>\n\n
Code Section<\/td>\n21-28-4.01, et seq.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Possession<\/td>\nNolo contendere pleas: 100 hrs. community service and drug education program; Up to 1 oz.: 3 yrs. and\/or $500 to $5000; 1 oz.-1 kg.: 10-50 yrs. and\/or $10,000-$50,000; Over 1 kg.: 20 yrs. to life and $25,000 to $1,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Sale<\/td>\nPerson not drug dependent: life and\/or $10,000 to $500,000; Drug dependent: 30 yrs. and or $3000 to $100,000; 1 kg.: minimum 10-50 yrs. and\/or $10,000 to $500,000; Over 1 kg.: 20 yrs.-life and\/or $25,000-$1,000,000; Sale to minor or 3 yrs. junior: minimum 15 yrs. and up to $500,000; Within 300 yds. of school: double penalties<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Trafficking<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Drug Court Available?<\/td>\nYes (see Rhode Island Superior Court: Adult Drug Court<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws may change or be overruled at any time through the decisions of higher courts, the enactment of new legislation, and other methods. You may want to contact a Rhode Island drug crime attorney<\/a> or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\n

Research the Law<\/h2>\n