Illinois Drug Laws

Possession of illegal drugs is a serious crime. Illinois has tough drug laws and some judges tend to be harsher than others. Many people believe that strict punishment of drug offenders will act as a deterrent to other criminals and encourage them to stay away from the illegal drug trade.

The possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, morphine, or LSD is illegal. The venalities will increase with the amount of drugs in the conviction. Almost every drug possession crime is a Class I Felony. A conviction will lead to a permanent criminal record and possibly jail time.

Possession of less than 15 grams of an illegal substance is a Class 4 Felony. If the conviction is for 15 to 100 grams, the defendant will receive at least four years in prison. For a much higher amount - 900 grams - the defendant will be sentenced to at least ten years in prison. In addition, the defendant will be charged fines in the amount of the “street value” of the drugs found in their possession; these fines can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Possession of LSD is slightly different because of the form of the drug. In addition to weight, it can be measured in pieces or tabs when in pill form.

Some anabolic steroids are illegal. This is the type of substance found among athletes who wish to gain strength. Even with a first offense, possession of anabolic steroids can result in a Class C misdemeanor conviction with a small amount of jail time and fines in addition to a criminal record.

Distribution of drugs is a different drug crime. Suspects can be charged with a misdemeanor with as little as 2.5 grams of drugs. If the suspect is caught with a weapon or if they are within a certain distance of a school, church, or public park, the charges will increase as will the penalties if convicted.

It is important for the defendant to have legal representation to make sure their rights are not violated. Law enforcement must follow strict procedure when searching for drugs or seizing anything from a suspect.