Drug Laws in Dallas, Texas
Laws prohibiting the distribution and use of controlled substances and laws forbidding the distribution and use of banned substances are very strictly enforced in Texas. Amendments to Texas drug laws over the past decade have supplemented ample penalties for what had formerly been minor drug violations. Drug possession or sale of a minimal amount of certain prohibited substances can lead to severe penalties, including fines, jail time and a permanent criminal record.
Classification of controlled and illegal drugs in Texas:
Section 481 of the Texas Health and Safety Code establishes five penalty groups for controlled and prohibited substances. Common drugs included in each group are:
- Group 1: Heroin, cocaine, meth, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadol, opium
- Group 1A: LSD
- Group 2: Mescaline, PCP, ecstasy
- Group 3: Xanax, valium, ritalin, Phenobarbital
- Group 4: Motofen, buprenorphine, dionine, pryovalerone
Penalties for controlled and illegal drugs in Texas
Penalties for drug possession in any penalty group will depend completely on the weight of the drug in possession. Although each penalty group has its own weight limits, the crime classifications and penalties for all penalty groups are relatively similar and increase as weight increases.
- Smallest amounts are a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony. Class A misdemeanor carries a punishment of maximum of one year in jail and a maximum fine of $4,000. State jail felony carries a punishment of a jail sentence of 6 months to 2 years and a maximum fine of $10,000.
- Larger amounts are third- and second-degree felonies, carrying 2 to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
- Largest amounts are first and enhanced first-degree felonies carrying punishment of 5 to 99 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.
Marijuana Laws in Texas
Although marijuana is not included in any of the aforesaid penalty groups, it is still illegal to possess marijuana in Texas. Penalties for marijuana possession are similar with any other illegal drugs and depend nearly entirely on the amount possessed. Possession of two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor with punishment of maximum fine of $2,000 and a maximum jail sentence of 180 days, whereas possession of between 50 and 2,000 pounds is a second-degree felony with a punishment of sentence to jail of 2 to 20 years and a maximum fine of $10,000.
