Drug Crimes

The seriousness of the offense of a drug crime in Virginia depends on 3 things: the type of controlled substance, the intention behind the possession of that controlled substance, and the amount of that controlled substance.

Virginia has 6 lists of controlled substance, called schedules. Each list has a number of controlled substances on it, Schedule VI is the lowest and least serious, and Schedules I and II are equally the most serious.

The range of punishment is as little as a $25 on a civil penalty for simple possession of marijuana, to a potential life sentence for charges related to the manufacturing of certain controlled substances on Schedule I and II, and just about everything in between.