While many states in the United States have extremely strict laws concerning the consumption of marijuana, others have realized the medicinal benefits of this plant, thus allowing medical marijuana consumption. While other states have not enacted this type of law, they have realized the threat of marijuana is not as great as once thought, thus the laws and penalties of consuming marijuana have been watered down. Mississippi has decriminalized marijuana use to a certain extent, thus providing those who consume marijuana for recreation or medicinal purposes lean-way with the government. Below you will find all of the current Mississippi marijuana laws and penalties, which are active as of 2010.
Possession of Marijuana:
If you are caught with 30 grams of marijuana or less, and it is your first offense, you will be charged with a misdemeanor; however, this charge is a summons only, thus you will not be arrested by a police officer. This charge does not require any jail time, and you may face a fine ranging from $100 to $250. If you are caught with 30 grams of marijuana in your motor vehicle, expect if found in the trunk, you will be charged with a misdemeanor, and may face up to 90 days in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.
If you are caught with 30 to 250 grams of marijuana, you will be charged with a felony offense, which may require up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $3,000. If you are caught with 250 to 500 grams of marijuana, it is also a felony offense, and you may face two to eight years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. Having 500 grams to 11 pounds of marijuana is a felony charge, which may require six to 24 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000, and lastly if you’re caught with more than 11 pounds of marijuana you will be charged with a felony and may face 10 to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.
If you are caught selling less than one ounce of marijuana in Mississippi, you will be charged with a felony and may face up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $3,000. If you are caught selling one ounce to one pounds of marijuana you will be charged with a felony and may face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $30,000. If you are caught selling 2 pounds to 10 pounds of marijuana, you will also be charged with a felony and may face up to 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Lastly, if you’re caught selling more than 10 pounds of marijuana you will be charged with a felony and may face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The fine for this charge varies according to your criminal record and amount of marijuana found.
