Marijuana is a Schedule I drug.

See:

• West Virginia CODE §60A-2-204(d)

Possession

Possession of marijuana in any amount is a misdemeanor punishable by not less than 90 days, nor more than 6 months and not fined more than $1,000.

Conditional discharge for first offense of possession of less than 15 grams of marijunana: For a first drug related possession charge, the court can give the offender probation with the traditional array of drug testing and supervision traditionally part of the probation process. Discharge is not a legal conviction.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-401(c)
• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-407

Sale or Distribution

Includes possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.

Felony punishable with not less than 1 year, nor more than 5 years, in prison and a fine of not more than $15,000.

Trafficking marijuana into WV will be punished for not less than 1 year nor more than 5 years and fined up to $15,000.

WV has a two year mandatory minimum sentence for sale/distribution to a minor or if sale/delivery occurs within 1,000 feet of a school.

See:

• West Virginia CODE §60A-4-401(a)(ii)
• West Virginia CODE §60A-4-409(b)(2)
• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-406 (b)

Cultivation

Cultivation in West Virginia will be punished based upon the aggregate weight of the plants found as either simple possession or as possession with the intent to distribute. See the "Possession" and "Sale or Distribution" sections for further penalty details.

Hash & Concentrates

Hashish and concentrates are considered a compound or preparation of marijuana and is thus a schedule I controlled substance.

See:

• West Virginia CODE §60A-2-204(d)(19)
• West Virginia CODE §60A-1-101
• Hubbard v. Spillers, 202 S.E.2d 180 (W.Va 1974)

Paraphernalia

Any person who conducts, finances, manages, supervises, directs or owns all or part of an illegal drug paraphernalia business is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or confined in jail not less than six months nor more than one year, or both.

Attempts to adulterate drug screening test or selling or knowingly possessing products for that purpose is punishable:

1. For a first offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars;
2. For a second offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, be fined not more than five thousand dollars; and
3. For a third or subsequent offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or confined in the regional jail for not more than one year, or both.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-403a
• West Virginia CODE :§60A-4-412

Sentencing

Second or subsequent convictions for both possession and distribution are eligible for double the penalty set out in law.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-408

Conditional discharge for first offense of possession: For a first drug related possession charge, the court can give the offender probation with the traditional array of drug testing and supervision traditionally part of the probation process. Discharge is not a legal conviction.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-407

Misdemeanor or Felony

Possession is a misdemeanor, while distribution and manufacture are felonies.

Mandatory Minimum

Mandatory two year minimum sentence (doubling WV’s regular one year minimum for marijuana felonies) if the offender is:

1. twenty-one years of age or older at the time of the distribution upon which the conviction is based, and the person to whom the controlled substance was distributed was under the age of eighteen years at the time of the distribution; or
2. eighteen years of age or older and the distribution upon which the conviction is based occurred in or on, or within one thousand feet of a public or private elementary, vocational or secondary school or a public or private college, junior college or university in this state.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-406 (b)

Trafficking marijuana into WV carries a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 1 year.

See:

• West Virginia CODE §60A-4-409(b)(2)

Forfeiture

Everything involved in the production and transportation processes of controlled substances, including cars, houses, and monetary funds, are liable to be forfeited to the State after a successful prosecution of a drug distribution or manufacturing case.

Paraphernalia: Any property, including money, used in violation of the provisions of this section may be seized and forfeited to the state.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-7-703
• West Virginia CODE: §60A-7-704
• West Virginia CODE: §60A-7-705

Miscellaneous

Drug Screening Adulteration

Attempts to adulterate drug screening test or selling or knowingly possessing products for that purpose is punishable:

1. For a first offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars;
2. For a second offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, be fined not more than five thousand dollars; and
3. For a third or subsequent offense is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or confined in the regional jail for not more than one year, or both.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §60A-4-403a
• West Virginia CODE :§60A-4-412

Driver's license revocation

Mandatory license revocation for any felony offense when a motor vehicle is used in its commission. This would include conviction for manufacturing or delivering pot, but simple possession would not qualify as a felony.

See:

• West Virginia CODE: §17B-3-5
• West Virginia CODE: §604A-4-401(a)(i)