Possession of Controlled Substance (HS 11350):

California Health and Safety Code 11350 HS prohibits the possession of specific “controlled substances” without a valid prescription. A “controlled substance” is defined as a drug or chemical whose use, possession, and manufacture are regulated by the government under the United States “Controlled Substances Act”.

Examples of commonly possessed controlled substances include (but are not limited to): Opiates, cocaine, heroin, and peyote. In addition, California’s illegal drug possession law also mandates that it is illegal for a person to possess prescription drugs without a valid prescription (for example, codeine and hydrocodone).

In order to prove that you possessed a controlled substance, the prosecutor must prove that you exercised control over the drug, you knew the drug was in your presence, you knew that the drug was a controlled substance and there was a sufficient quantity of the drug to be used as a controlled substance.

Penalties (HS 11350):

California’s “possession of controlled substances” law is typically treated as a misdemeanor. If convicted, you face up to one year in county jail and/or fines up to $1,000. However, depending on your criminal history, you may face increased jail time and fines.

If you are not a citizen of the United States, a conviction for possession of illegal drugs could lead to possible deportation and denial of re-entry and naturalization.