The fully legal use and decriminalization of marijuana is a constant hot topic of debate in public, private and political circles. Among the continental United States, 10 states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. 15 states have reduced the fees and penalties associated with marijuana-related offenses. Georgia is not one of them.
Georgia still takes the criminalization of marijuana, hash and other concentrated substances resembling those two very seriously.
Below we’ll go over the associated penalties and fees linked to Marijuana, hash and concentrates, paraphernalia, and other miscellaneous crimes associated with those controlled substances.
Marijuana possession:
- One ounce or less: Misdemeanor, maximum of up to one-year prison sentence and max $1,000 fine
- More than one ounce: Felony, 1-10 years sentence and max $5,000 fine
*Marijuana possession with intent to distribute:
- 10 lbs. or less: Felony, 1-10 years sentence and max $5,000 fine
- 10 to 2,000 lbs.: Felony, 5-30 years sentence and max $100,000 fine
- 2000 to 10,000 lbs.: Felony, 7-30 years sentence and max $250,000 fine
- More than 10,000 lbs.: Felony, 15-30 years sentence and max $1,000,000 fine
- Within 1,000 feet of a school, park, housing project or drug free zone: Felony, 5-40 years sentence and max $40,000 fine
*The penalties and fines associated with intent to distribute are the same as sale/delivery and cultivation of marijuana.
Hash and concentrates possession:
- Less than one gram of a solid substance or less than one milliliter of a liquid substance: Felony, 1-3 years sentence and max $5,000 fine
- One gram to less than four grams of a solid substance or one milliliter to less than four milliliters of a liquid substance: Felony, 1-8 years sentence and max $5,000 fine
- Greater than four grams of solid substance or greater than four grams of liquid substance: Felony, 1-15 years sentence and max $5,000 fine
- Manufacture, distribute, sell or possession with intent to distribute: Felony, 5-30 years sentence and max $5,000 fine.
Paraphernalia:
- Possession or sale of paraphernalia: misdemeanor, maximum of up to one-year sentence and max $1,000 fine
Miscellaneous charges:
- Forfeiture: vehicles and other property may be seized
- Abandoning marijuana in a public area: misdemeanor, maximum of up to one-year sentence and max $1,000 fine
- Any use involving a minor: Felony, 5-20 years sentence and max $20,000 fine
- Distribution of a marijuana flavored product: misdemeanor and max $500 fine
- Use of any communications facility for any activity related to marijuana, hash or concentrates: Felony, 1-4 years sentence and max $30,000 fine
Also, any conviction of marijuana possession, sale, delivery, distribution or cultivation would result in the suspension of one’s drivers license.
