Possession of Drugs

Unlawful possession of controlled substances is a crime governed in Massachusetts by G.L. c. 94C, §34, the Controlled Substances Act, which makes it illegal for a person to “knowingly or intentionally” possess a “controlled substance” unless the substance was lawfully obtained. The Act defines “drug” very broadly; however, the most common types of drugs are categorized into different classes, A-E, for the purpose of establishing criminal penalties, with Class A Drugs carrying the most serious penalties and Class E Drugs carrying the least serious penalties. If a defendant is found guilty of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, his or her license will be suspended. The length of the suspension depends on the type of substance and whether the defendant has received a previous conviction for a drug possession charge.