It is illegal in all states to buy, sell or manufacture controlled substances. Controlled substances such as cocaine pose a danger to society, so each state sets stern laws to combat them. For this reason, a person in Frankfurt, Kentucky, caught with cocaine can face stern penalties.
Overview of Kentucky drug laws
Kentucky classifies drugs on Schedules I to V based on the abuse risk. Schedule I drugs, the highest risk, have no approved medical use and include cocaine, LSD and heroin. These drugs and the compounds used to make them are often referred to as CDS, or controlled dangerous substances.
Kentucky divides drug crimes into several categories including manufacturing, cultivation, intent to sell and prescription fraud. The state assigns a class and a degree, commonly first to third, based on the circumstances, substance, amount of substance and prior convictions. First-degree possession drug charges, for example, are often classified as a Class D felony; second-degree charges count as a Class A misdemeanor.
Penalties
Penalties for a Class C felony for trafficking cocaine include 5 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Jail terms for a Class B cocaine trafficking charge can range from 10 to 20 years with up to a $10,000 fine. Selling less than 4 grams of cocaine is a Class D felony with penalties of one to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Cocaine possession may include a Class A misdemeanor charge that includes up to a three-year jail term. Possession of up to 8 ounces of cocaine commonly includes up to a $250 fine and a 45-day jail term.
To bring drug charges, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt the defendant knowingly and willingly possessed or sold the substance. However, mistakes can be made during arrests that lead a judge to dismiss or lessen charges.
