Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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From to tea in the 18th Century, to tourists today, Massachusetts has been a hub of shipping traffic, not all of it legal. Cocaine was the Bay State’s major drug threat through much of the ‘90’s and remains the first or second-most heavily trafficked illegal drug. Due to the violence surrounding cocaine trafficking, distribution, and use, Massachusetts authorities crack down heavily on the possession and sale of cocaine, in both powder and rock form. This is a brief overview of cocaine laws in Massachusetts.
The possession, sale, or trafficking of cocaine is a felony crime in most states. Possession of a small amount of the drug can lead to a year and or a $1,000 fine in Massachusetts. Massachusetts cocaine laws are similar to cocaine laws in other states, going up in severity and punishment with multiple offenses.
The charges and penalties under Massachusetts cocaine laws are listed below.
Code Section |
Ch. 94c §§1, et seq. |
Possession |
1 yr. and/or $1,000 Subsequent offense: 2 yrs. and/or $2000; Over 14 g. is trafficking |
Sale |
2?-10 yrs. and/or $1000 to $10,000; Subsequent offense: 5-15 yrs. and/or $2500 to $25,000 |
Trafficking |
14-28 g.: 3-15 yrs. and/or $2500 to $25,000; 28-100 g.: 5-20 yrs. and/or $5000 to $50,000; 100-200 g.: 10-20 yrs. and/or $10,000 to $100,000; Over 200 g.: 15-20 yrs. and/or $50,000 to $500,000 |
Cocaine is regulated not just by Massachusetts as a state, but at the federal level as well. Federal drug laws prohibit everything from simple cocaine possession all the way from manufacturing and cultivation to trafficking and distribution. Drug convictions in general can carry severe penalties and for cocaine especially. As seen above, the penalties can vary depending on whether you have prior drug convictions and the quantity of drugs involved. It is possible that some prosecutors could offer a plea bargain to a lower-level offender in exchange for help building a case against higher-level producers and dealers. And some jurisdictions now have specialized “drug courts” that can help first or second-time drug crime defendants avoid a jail sentence and instead spend time in treatment or other options.
Social norms regarding drugs, and the state laws that reflect them, are constantly changing. You can visit FindLaw's Drug Charges section for additional resources and introductory information. If you would like legal help regarding a drug case or in understanding local drug laws, you can contact a Massachusetts drug crime attorney.
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