California legal term
nonviolent drug possession offense in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “nonviolent drug possession offense” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “nonviolent drug possession offense” mean in California criminal law?
“nonviolent drug possession offense” means the unlawful personal use, possession for personal use, or transportation for personal use of any controlled substance identified in Section 11054, 11055, 11056, 11057, or 11058 of the Health and Safety Code, or the offense of being under the influence of a controlled substance in violation of Section 11550 of the Health and Safety Code. (Cal. Penal Code § 1210)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.