The severity of a drug charge depends on what type of drug you possessed. The severity of may be more or less depending on the amount of the drug that was possessed as well, but here I am just going over the types of drugs. In North Carolina drugs are classified into schedules, with schedule I being the most severely punished and schedule VI being the least severe. Drugs are categorized generally based on how addictive they are and the harmful the side effects are. I have compiled a list of the schedules in North Carolina and what types of drugs are included to give you an idea of the severity level of various types of illegal drugs.
Schedule I – Includes Heroin, Ecstasy, GHB, Methaqualone, Peyote, and Opiates; Possession of these drugs are a Class I Felony
Schedule II – Includes Cocaine, Raw Opium, Opium Extracts, Fluid and Powder Codeine, Hydrocodone, Morphine, and Methadone; First Offense for any of these is a Class 1 Misdemeanor and a Second Offense is a Class 1 Felony
ScheduleIII- Includes Ketamine, Anabolic Steroids, and some Barbiturates; First Offense is a Class 1 Misdemeanor and a Second Offense is a Class 1 Felony
Schedule IV – Includes Valium, Xanax, Rohypnol, Darvon, Clonazepam, and Barbital; First Offense is a Class 1 Misdemeanor and a Second Offense is a Class 1 Felony.
Schedule V – Includes over the counter cough medicines with codeine; First Offense is a Class 2 Misdemeanor and a Second Offense is a Class 1 Misdemeanor
Schedule VI- Includes Marijuana, Hashish, and Hashish Oil; First Offense is a Class 3 Misdemeanor and a Second Offense is a Class 2 Misdemeanor.
The punishments listed here are for possession based charges. If you have been charged with trafficking illegal drugs the punishments will likely be harsher than those listed here. Any criminal charge on your record may have negative effects on you in the future, but a drug charge may have more serious impacts. If you have been charged with possession of any drug remember you are still innocent until proven guilty. Contacting an attorney who can evaluate your case to get you the best possible outcome is imperative.
