Most laws prohibiting possession or use include: cocaine (or crack), methamphetamine (speed), ecstasy, heroin, PCP, LSD.  Other laws prohibit possession without a valid prescription for Vicodin, Oxycontin, Xanax, Valium, and Adderall among others.

Drug Crimes can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. The prosecutor will make that determination based on several factors including: the type of drug, whether aggravating circumstances were present, the amount of the drug, whether the possession was for personal use or sales, area of the offense, and whether the defendant was a repeat offender, among other factors.

Possible Consequences of a Drug Offense Conviction?

Because a drug offense can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, the range of possible punishments varies greatly. If charged as a misdemeanor and you are found guilty, the penalties range from getting your case dismissed under a diversion program up to one year in county jail and be fined up to $1000.  If you are found guilty of a felony, the consequences vary greatly as well and range from probation to imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

Other types of punishment the court may impose include community labor, community service, formal probation, summary probation, and drug treatment programs.

Other possible consequences stemming from a drug conviction include loss of employment, loss of potential future employment, and child custody.

Immigration Consequences

For undocumented individuals, a drug conviction can have severe immigration consequences.  Depending on the type of drug offense and the status of the undocumented person (undocumented or lawful permanent resident), a conviction for a non-U.S. citizen may face mandatory removal (formerly known as deportation), optional removal (deportation), and/or deemed inadmissible into the United States.

Possession crimes such as Possession of a Controlled Substance for Personal Use can get an undocumented individual deported.  Other offenses such as selling controlled substances or possession with intent to sell can face mandatory deportation with no opportunity for re-entry into the United States.