Bill > H3138

This bill amends Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94C, specifically sections 32C and 32E, to adjust penalties related to Class D controlled substances, which primarily include marijuana. For general violations involving Class D controlled substances, the bill modifies the penalties to include imprisonment in state prison for up to five years, or in a jail or house of correction for up to two and a half years, along with fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, or both. It also outlines enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, mandating imprisonment for at least one year and up to five years. Furthermore, the bill revises the penalties for "trafficking" in marijuana, defined as manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, cultivating, or possessing with intent to do so, or bringing into the commonwealth, ten pounds or more of marijuana or a mixture containing it. The penalties for trafficking are tiered based on the weight of the substance, with mandatory minimum prison sentences and fines increasing significantly as the weight increases, ranging from a minimum of two and a half years imprisonment and a $500 fine for 10-25 pounds, up to a minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine for 500 pounds or more.