If you are caught with LSD, you could face a series of legal consequences including arrest, jail time, a life-long criminal record and financial penalties.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), is illegal to possess in any form. Possession of LSD is a criminal offense that can result in legal repercussions including arrest, imprisonment, a life-long criminal record, heavy fines and more.
LSD is a chemically manufactured hallucinogen with extremely psychoactive and psychologically addictive qualities. Because LSD has no accepted medical uses and has the highest potential for misuse along with psychological and physical dependence among controlled substances, it is classified as aSchedule I narcoticby the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). LSD possession is illegal throughout the United States, but penalties vary by state and are largely dependent upon the quantity of LSD found in a person’s possession.
Article at a Glance:
- LSD is a schedule I substance, which means the FDA designates the drug as one of the most dangerous substances
- Possessing any amount and any form of LSD is illegal
- The only way people can acquire LSD is through illegal means
- Specialized drug tests are used to detect LSD use for up to 28 hours following the latest use
- Trafficking schedule I substances can result in tens of millions of dollars in fines and multiple, lifetime sentences
Crimes Associated with LSD
As with otherillicit controlled substances, the possession, use, distribution, sale and trafficking of LSD in any form and in any quantity is an unlawful offense, each with varying degrees of consequence. As an illicit substance without any accepted medical uses, LSD may only be purchased on the black market or from an individual who has obtained it on the black market.
At the state level, LSD-relatedpenaltiesrange from a misdemeanor to felony charges, depending on the amount in possession, how the LSD came into one’s possession and intent of possession. Smaller quantities of LSD will typically result in misdemeanor possession charges, while larger amounts or an established intent to distribute lead to felony charges and prosecution. An individual who is charged with a misdemeanor will likely be penalized with fines, probation, and a short prison sentence. An individual who is charged with a felony could face up to 20 years in prison depending on the severity of their offense.
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Certain offenses, such as trafficking, are also subject to federal penalties and prosecution. As stipulated by theFederal Controlled Substances Act, an individual charged with trafficking LSD faces federal felony charges. These charges carry a financial penalty of between $1 million and $50 million and a potential prison sentence of up to life in prison. Repeat offenders are likely to face steeper penalties, with a maximum fine of $75 million, alongside additional, concurrent life sentences.
The Legality of Possessing LSD
As a schedule I substance, possession, distribution, manufacturing, trafficking or any other interaction with LSD is acriminal offensein every state of the United States.
An individual caught with LSD in their possession is likely to face state misdemeanor, felony or federal felony charges, with several serious legal and financial consequences.
Amount of LSD Possessed
While no amount of LSD possession is legal, the type and severity of state-level criminal charges an individual caught with LSD faces are largely determined by the amount of LSD within that person’s possession at the time they’re caught.
While state-level offenses are determined by the amount of LSD, federal offenses related to LSD possession are primarily determined by the nature of the criminal act (trafficking, manufacturing, etc.) and an individual’s relative criminal history.
In each state, laws governing the use, possession and penalties for controlled substances are likely to vary considerably. As such, it is important to consult with a knowledgeable attorney regarding your state’s specific laws and penalties for LSD-related offenses.
Previous Criminal History
In the United States criminal justice system, individuals charged with drug crimes are subject to enhanced penalties when those individuals have a history of drug-related convictions or violent felonies. As such, an individual caught with LSD in their possession, who has already been convicted of a drug-related crime, is likely to face more severe legal and financial consequences than a first-time offender.
Even if an individual does not have drug-related convictions on their criminal record, they may still face more severe sentences than first-time offenders if they were convicted of other violent felony offenses.
The criminal history of an individual caught with LSD also has a compounding effect at thefederal level. In simple possession cases, the first conviction for any amount of LSD possession carries a minimum $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail, while the punishment for second convictions is twice that of a first offense. For individuals with multiple drug-related convictions, these penalties are even steeper.
Court Appointed Rehab
As part of nationwide efforts to divert those suffering from substance use disorders out of the criminal justice system, many states began offering reduced sentences or the complete dismissal of charges in exchange for voluntary enrollment incourt-appointed rehabilitation programs. These programs, commonly referred to aspretrial intervention programs, substitute convictions, incarceration and the negative externalities of living with a criminal record, for court-mandated treatment programs designed to reduce the likelihood that an individual commits further crimes.
Pretrial intervention programs were first offered by the state ofFlorida, that allows any first time, non-violent misdemeanor or felony offender to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement that includes court-appointed rehabilitation alongside counseling, education, supervision and additional medical and psychological treatment. After the conditions of this agreement are fully completed, the state dismisses all charges against that individual.
According to theNational Association of Drug Court Professionals, drug courts such as those in Florida are considered to be the, “…single most successful intervention in our nation’s history for leading people living with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery and stability.”
Getting Caught High on LSD
Individuals can be charged for criminal offenses for the use of LSD, in addition to possession, trafficking, and distribution. Individuals enrolled in pretrial intervention programs, on probation or other conditions, face serious legal penalties if LSD use is detected in their court-mandatedrandom drug test programs.
LSD is not detectable in any mainstream drug tests; however, there are specific drug tests, often used by employers and probation officers, that can specifically check for LSD use. These tests are called Abuscreen and EMIT. LSD isdetectablein these tests for between 15 and 28 hours following use.
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