Drug Free Zones
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The law* is tough on anyone caught selling or possessing illegal drugs in or within one city block or three hundred feet of any Minnesota:
- Park
- Public Housing Project
- School
The law states that a park, public housing, and school zones begin at the boundaries of the property and extend three hundred feet from that point, or one city block, whichever distance is greater.
The law is also tough on anyone caught selling or possessing illegal drugs:
- Within a school bus transporting elementary or secondary students
- Inside, or on any property belonging to, a drug treatment facility
Adults convicted of the sale or possession of illegal drugs in a school zone, park zone, public housing zone, or drug treatment facility can be sentenced as follows:
Sale of Narcotic Drugs, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Cocaine, Crack, Opium, Heroin, LSD, or five kilograms of Marijuana
- Up to 25 years in prison
- Up to a $500,000 fine
- Repeat Sale - up to 40 years in prison with a required sentence of at least 3 years
Possession of Narcotic Drugs (Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, Cocaine, Crack, Opium, Heroin, or five or more dosage units of LSD)
- Up to 20 years in prison
- Up to a $250,000 fine
Sale of Any Amount of Marijuana
- Up to 15 years in prison
- Up to a $100,000 fine
Sentencing may be further increased with possession or use of a dangerous weapon in these zones.
Separately, the Minnesota Legislature also made sale or possession of drugs in a park zone, school zone, correctional facility, or treatment facility one of eight potential aggravating factors, which may increase penalties in the following circumstances:
Sale or Possession of 100 or more grams or 500 or more dosage units of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin, a Narcotic Drug, Amphetamine, Phencyclidine, or a Hallucinogen while either possessing a gun or along with 2 aggravating factors
- Up to 40 years in prison with at least 86 months in prison
- Up to a $1,000,000 fine
Sale of 10 grams or more Cocaine or Methamphetamine along with 2 aggravating factors, or Possession 25 grams or more of Cocaine or Methamphetamine along with 2 aggravating factors
- Up to 30 years in prison
- Up to a $1,000,000 fine
- Repeat Sale - up to 40 years in prison with a required sentence of at least 4 years
Sale of 3 grams or more Cocaine or Methamphetamine along with 3 aggravating factors, or
Possession of 10 grams or more Cocaine or Methamphetamine along with 3 aggravating factors
- Up to 25 years in prison
- Up to a $500,000 fine
- Repeat Sale - up to 40 years in prison with a required sentence of at least 3 years
Juveniles convicted of these crimes who are at least 14 years old can be treated as an adult and sentenced in an adult court.
This flyer is published pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 152.029
* Minnesota Statutes 152.01, 152.021-152.024
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