Indiana categorizes controlled substances into a series of “schedules.” Schedule I drugs are considered to have no medical purposes and a high likelihood of abuse. Schedule II drugs are considered likely to be abused, but have some approved medical purposes. Schedule III have some potential for abuse and dependency, but are considered more useful for medical purposes. Schedule IV and Schedule V drugs follow the same pattern, with decreasing abuse risks and increasing medical usefulness.
Amounts involved
The penalties associated with a drug depend largely on the drug’s schedule and the amount involved. However, there are some complicating factors.
For example, heroin is a Schedule I drug, and possession of any amount is treated as a felony. Indiana law recognizes several levels of felony charges, and the level gets more serious in cases involving greater quantities of the drug. More serious levels carry more serious penalties.
Methamphetamine is a Schedule II drug, but the amounts and penalties are largely the same as those for heroin, which falls under Schedule I.
Despite recent attempts to loosen restrictions, Indiana treats marijuana as a Schedule I drug. Still, possession charges for marijuana are much less severe than those for heroin. Possession of under 30 grams of marijuana is treated as a misdemeanor, which can mean up a year in jail. If the amount is over 30 grams, possession of marijuana can be treated as a felony.
The main difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is that felony can carry a prison sentence of one year or more, while the sentence for a misdemeanor only goes up to one year at the most. However, it’s important to note that many drug charges also carry fines, and they can affect a person’s life in other ways that linger well beyond any time they spend behind bars.