Marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act
Federal Marijuana Penalties and State Developments
Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. As a result, it is a Federal crime to grow, sell, or merely possess the drug. In addition to facing the prospect of a Federal criminal prosecution, those who violate the Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) may suffer a number of additional adverse consequences under Federal law. For example, Federal authorities may confiscate any property used to grow marijuana or facilitate its sale or use; marijuana users may lose their jobs, their homes, or their right to possess a firearm or ammunition; and sellers of marijuana may lose the tax…
