Have a question?
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 18 Sec. 4231

  • Cocaine: means coca leaves except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed; cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers; ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the substances referred to in this subdivision. See
  • Crack cocaine: means the free-base form of cocaine. See
  • Dispense: includes distribute, leave with, give away, dispose of, or deliver. See
  • Person: includes an individual, partnership, corporation, association, trust, or other institution or entity. See

§ 4231. Cocaine

(a) Possession.

(1) A person knowingly and unlawfully possessing cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both.

(2) A person knowingly and unlawfully possessing cocaine in an amount consisting of 2.5 grams or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $100,000.00, or both.

(3) A person knowingly and unlawfully possessing cocaine in an amount consisting of one ounce or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined not more than $250,000.00, or both.

(4) [Deleted.]

(b) Selling or dispensing.

(1) A person knowingly and unlawfully dispensing cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $75,000.00, or both. A person knowingly and unlawfully selling cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $100,000.00, or both.

(2) A person knowingly and unlawfully selling or dispensing cocaine in an amount consisting of 2.5 grams or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined not more than $250,000.00, or both.

(3) A person knowingly and unlawfully selling or dispensing cocaine in an amount consisting of one ounce or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than 20 years or fined not more than $1,000,000.00, or both.

(c)(1) Trafficking. A person knowingly and unlawfully possessing cocaine in an amount consisting of 150 grams or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing cocaine with the intent to sell or dispense the cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than 30 years or fined not more than $1,000,000.00, or both. There shall be a permissive inference that a person who possesses cocaine in an amount consisting of 150 grams or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing cocaine intends to sell or dispense the cocaine. The amount of possessed cocaine under this subdivision to sustain a charge of conspiracy under 13 V.S.A. § 1404 shall be no less than 400 grams in the aggregate.

(2) A person knowingly and unlawfully possessing crack cocaine in an amount consisting of 60 grams or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing crack cocaine with the intent to sell or dispense the crack cocaine shall be imprisoned not more than 30 years or fined not more than $1,000,000.00, or both. There shall be a permissive inference that a person who possesses crack cocaine in an amount consisting of 60 grams or more of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances containing crack cocaine intends to sell or dispense the crack cocaine. (Added 1989, No. 100, § 2; amended 2001, No. 52, § 4; 2003, No. 54, § 5; 2007, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)