The Cannabis Control Act regulates the possession, manufacture and delivery of cannabis in Illinois. Outside of specific medical exceptions, Illinois law prohibits the delivery of cannabis.
Under the law, the term delivery refers to the actual or attempted transfer of possession of cannabis. Moreover, Illinois law does not require the presence of compensation or consideration for a delivery crime. Essentially, delivery crimes can apply whenever cannabis changes hands from one person to another.
Casual Delivery of Cannabis
Casual delivery of cannabis is a lower-level offense that applies to small quantities of marijuana. In most cases, casual delivery is a misdemeanor offense.
Please find below a breakdown of Illinois penalties for the casual delivery of cannabis.
- Delivery of 2.5 grams or less: Results in a Class B misdemeanor charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class B misdemeanor include 180 days in jail, $1,500 in fines and 24 months of probation.
- Delivery of 2.5 grams to 10 grams: Results in a Class A misdemeanor charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class A misdemeanor include 364 days in jail, $2,500 in fines and 24 months of probation.
Standard Delivery of Cannabis
If a person delivers or attempts to deliver large amounts of cannabis in Illinois, the penalty structure becomes much more severe. The Cannabis Control Act is designed to punish large-scale traffickers.
Please find below a breakdown of Illinois penalties for the delivery of cannabis.
- Delivery of 10 grams to 30 grams: Results in a Class 4 felony charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class 4 felony include 36 months in jail, $25,000 in fines and 30 months of probation.
- Delivery of 30 grams to 500 grams: Results in a Class 3 felony charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class 3 felony include 60 months in jail, $25,000 in fines and 30 months of probation.
- Delivery of 500 grams to 2,000 grams: Results in a Class 2 felony charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class 2 felony include 84 months in jail, $100,000 in fines and 48 months of probation.
- Delivery of 2,000 grams to 5,000 grams: Results in a Class 1 felony charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class 1 felony include 15 years in jail, $150,000 in fines and 48 months of probation.
- Delivery of 5,000 grams or more: Results in a Class X felony charge. The Illinois penalties for this Class X felony include 30 years in jail and $200,000 in fines. Probation is not available for this offense.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in matters of criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com or by completing an online form.
(image courtesy of Amritanshu Sikdar)