Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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Cocaine is an illegal drug across the U.S., but this wasn’t always the case, a hundred years ago, it wasn’t regulated. Today, Mississippi and every other state have cocaine (including powder or rock forms) listed as a “controlled substance.” Controlled substances are divided into different schedules from 1 at the top for most dangerous (plus marijuana, which critics argue is a political rather than scientific placement) to 5 at the bottom for the least addictive drugs with the most legitimate, beneficial uses. Cocaine is a Schedule II drug based on its addictive properties and uses.
Mississippi, like federal law, divides its drug laws into crimes and penalties for Schedule I and II (heroin, cocaine, marijuana, etc.) and Schedule III-V drugs (ketamine, alprazolam, pregabalin, etc.). The following chart explains the Mississippi cocaine laws.
| Code Sections | Mississippi Code Sections
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| Possession | The penalty for possession of cocaine (not to sell it) in Mississippi depends on the amount of coke in the defendant’s possession:
If you have over 30 grams of coke when you’re arrested, you’ll be tried for trafficking cocaine. |
| Sale | Mississippi drug laws are highly discretionary for knowingly or intentionally selling, bartering, manufacturing, or possessing with the intent to sell. The penalties are also based on the amount of coke:
Paraphernalia |
| Trafficking | Trafficking in controlled substances means either more than 30 grams of coke in your possession or to have three or more selling offenses in a 12-month period or having 30 grams of coke to sell. However, prior convictions can’t be used to establish trafficking (that could be double jeopardy which the U.S. constitution prohibits). If you’re found guilty of trafficking cocaine, you can get life in prison without suspension or parole, the mandatory minimum is 10 years. In addition, you’ll be fined between $5,000 and $1,000,000. However, this section doesn’t apply to informants who help arrest or prosecute other violators of these drug laws. This is likely to encourage taking down an entire drug ring, rather than only a few members. |
If you’ve been charged with a cocaine-related drug crime, it’s important to immediately seek the assistance of an experienced Mississippi drug crime defense lawyer. If you can’t afford an attorney, ask the court for a public defender. It’s good to seek experienced counsel for the best possible defense.
Note: State criminal laws change regularly, so you should contact a criminal defense lawyer or conduct your own legal research to verify these laws.
Contact a qualified attorney.
Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions. Many Mississippi attorneys offer free consultations for Drug Crime.