Tennessee Cocaine Laws

Tennessee Code

Title 39 - Criminal Offenses

• TN Code Section 39-17-401 (Tennessee Drug Control Act of 1989)
• TN Code Section 39-17-408 (substances in schedule ii)
• TN Code Section 39-17-417 (criminal offenses)
• TN Code Section 39-17-418 (simple possession or casual exchange)

Title 40 - Criminal Procedure

• TN Code Section 40-35-111 (Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989)
• TN Code Section 40-35-112 (sentence ranges)

Per § 39-17-417(a), a person who engages in the following violates Tennessee law:

• Manufacturing cocaine with knowledge
• Delivering cocaine
• Selling cocaine
• Possessing cocaine with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell it

Class A Felonies

Manufacturing, selling, or delivering cocaine in the amount of 300 grams or more is a Class A felony. Penalties include between 15 to 60 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000.

Class B Felonies

Manufacturing, selling, or delivering cocaine in an amount over 0.5 grams is a Class B felony. Possessing less than 0.5 grams of cocaine while also possessing a deadly weapon during the offense or causing the death or bodily injury of a person is a Class B felony.

Class B felony penalties include between eight years and 30 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000.

Manufacturing, selling, or delivering cocaine in an amount over 26 grams is a Class B felony. Offenders face up to 30 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $200,000.

Class C Felonies

Manufacturing, selling, or delivering cocaine by possessing less than 0.5 grams of cocaine is a Class C felony punishable by:

• Between three to 15 years of imprisonment
• A fine of up to $100,000

Class E Felonies

Selling, delivering, distributing, or manufacturing a substance that a person represents to be and closely resembles a Schedule I, II, III, or IV controlled substance like cocaine is a Class E felony.

Delivering, possessing with the intent to deliver, or manufacturing with the intent to deliver drug paraphernalia knowing that someone will use it to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce cocaine (or a cocaine analogue) into the human body is a Class E felony.

A Class E felony is punishable by:

• Between one to six years of imprisonment
• A fine of up to $5,000

Class A Misdemeanors

Simple possession of cocaine is a Class A misdemeanor. Engaging in the casual exchange of cocaine is also a Class A misdemeanor.

Using (or possessing with the intent to use) drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce cocaine (or a cocaine analogue) into the human body is a Class A misdemeanor.

The penalty for a Class A misdemeanor conviction is up to 11 months and 29 days of imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,500.

A person who delivers (or intends to deliver) cocaine to someone who is younger than 18 years old is punished one classification higher.

Manufacturing, selling, or delivering cocaine on school grounds or within 500 feet of or within the area bounded by a divided federal highway, whichever is less, the real property that comprises a public or private elementary school, middle school, secondary school, preschool, child care agency, public library, recreational center, or park may be punishable by one classification higher than normal. They may face additional fines and a mandatory minimum prison sentence.