Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
Wyoming, with its wide open spaces, may be the least densely populated state in the continental U.S. But it is still prone to drug problems. Indeed, cocaine remains a threat to Wyoming -- although not to the same extent as methamphetamine or marijuana. Powdered cocaine and crack cocaine do get seized in the state.
Criminal groups control the wholesale distribution of powdered cocaine and the retail distribution of powdered and crack cocaine in Wyoming. Due to the violence surrounding cocaine trafficking, distribution, and use, the Cowboy State cracks down heavily on the possession and sale of cocaine, in both powder and rock form. This is a brief overview of cocaine laws in Wyoming.
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 Wyoming. Wyoming cocaine laws are similar to cocaine laws in other states, going up in severity and punishment with multiple offenses.
The charges and penalties under Wyoming cocaine laws are listed below.
| Code Section | 35-7-1001 to 1057 |
| Possession | Less than 3 g. of cocaine or less than .5 g. of crack: misdemeanor, up to 1 yr. and/or $1000; Greater than 3 g. of cocaine or .5 g. of crack: felony, 7 yrs. and/or $15,000; Subsequent offense: up to 5 yrs. and/or $5000 or double penalties |
| Sale | Up to 20 yrs. and/or $25,000; Subsequent offense or sale to minor or within drug-free zone: double penalties |
| Trafficking | - |
Cocaine is regulated not just by Wyoming 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 Wyoming drug crime attorney.
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