Maine criminal charge
Unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in Maine
Unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 1103. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 1103.
What is the penalty for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Trafficking - Schedule W drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule W drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Trafficking - Schedule W drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule W drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Trafficking - Schedule X drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule X drug.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Trafficking - Schedule X drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule X drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Trafficking - Marijuana (20 lbs or more) — The drug is marijuana in a quantity of 20 pounds or more.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Trafficking - Marijuana (20 lbs or more) — The drug is marijuana in a quantity of 20 pounds or more.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Trafficking - Marijuana (500+ plants cultivated) — The person grows or cultivates 500 or more marijuana plants.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(B)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $20,000 (Trafficking - Marijuana (500+ plants cultivated) — The person grows or cultivates 500 or more marijuana plants.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(2)); organizations up to $40,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Trafficking - Marijuana (more than 1 lb) — The drug is marijuana in a quantity of more than one pound.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Trafficking - Marijuana (more than 1 lb) — The drug is marijuana in a quantity of more than one pound.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Trafficking - Marijuana (100+ plants cultivated) — The person grows or cultivates 100 or more marijuana plants.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Trafficking - Marijuana (100+ plants cultivated) — The person grows or cultivates 100 or more marijuana plants.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Trafficking - Schedule Y drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule Y drug.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Trafficking - Schedule Y drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule Y drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Trafficking - Schedule Z drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule Z drug.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Trafficking - Schedule Z drug — The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule Z drug.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trafficking - Schedule W drug | Class B Crime | The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule W drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(A) |
| Trafficking - Schedule X drug | Class C Crime | The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule X drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(B) |
| Trafficking - Marijuana (20 lbs or more) | Class B Crime | The drug is marijuana in a quantity of 20 pounds or more. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(C) |
| Trafficking - Marijuana (500+ plants cultivated) | Class B Crime | The person grows or cultivates 500 or more marijuana plants. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(D) |
| Trafficking - Marijuana (more than 1 lb) | Class C Crime | The drug is marijuana in a quantity of more than one pound. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(E) |
| Trafficking - Marijuana (100+ plants cultivated) | Class C Crime | The person grows or cultivates 100 or more marijuana plants. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(F) |
| Trafficking - Schedule Y drug | Class D Crime | The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule Y drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(G) |
| Trafficking - Schedule Z drug | Class D Crime | The scheduled drug trafficked is a schedule Z drug. | 17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(H) |
Common questions about unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in Maine
What class of crime is unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs ranges from a Class D Crime to a Class B Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 1103.
Trafficking - Schedule W drug: Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(A)) · Trafficking - Schedule X drug: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(B)) · Trafficking - Marijuana (20 lbs or more): Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(C)) · Trafficking - Marijuana (500+ plants cultivated): Class B Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(D)) · Trafficking - Marijuana (more than 1 lb): Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(E)) · Trafficking - Marijuana (100+ plants cultivated): Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(F)) · Trafficking - Schedule Y drug: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(G)) · Trafficking - Schedule Z drug: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 1103(1-A)(H))
What are the penalties for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in Maine?
Penalties for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class D Crime up to a Class B Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs?
Unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 1103 (Unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.