According to Texas drug law, it is against the law for residents to possess a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) without a valid prescription. Illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroine and other well-known narcotic substances fall under this category, as do highly dangerous medical drugs.
For those who break the law, the state assigns guilty defendants into one of four “penalty groups” (and two sub-groups) depending on which substance you are accused of possessing. We’ll explain these groups below and discuss the penalties assigned to each. All penalties vary depending on the amount of CDS involved in the conviction.
If you have further questions about drug possession law in Texas, consider contacting a knowledgeable Texas drug offense attorney as soon as possible to discuss the specifics of your case.
Penalty Group 1, 1-A
Penalties for this group, as well as subgroup 1-A, applies to illegal possession of the following opiates, opium derivatives and dangerous substances:
- Acetorphine
- Acetyldihydrocodeine
- Alfentanil
- Allylprodine
- Alpha-methylthiofentanyl (N-[1-methyl-2-(2- thienyl)ethyl-4-piperidinyl]-N-phenylpropanamide)
- Alphacetylmethadol
- Alphaprodine
- Anileridine
- Benzethidine
- Benzylmorphine
- Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
- Beta-hydroxyfentanyl (N-[1-(2-hydroxy-2- phenethyl)-4-piperidinyl] -N-phenylpropanamide)
- Betaprodine
- Bezitramide
- Carfentanil
- Clonitazene
- Cocaine
- Codeine methylbromide
- Codeine not listed in Penalty Group 3 or 4
- Codeine-N-Oxide
- Cyprenorphine
- Desomorphine
- Diampromide
- Diethylthiambutene
- Difenoxin not listed in Penalty Group 3 or 4
- Dihydrocodeine not listed in Penalty Group 3 or 4
- Dihydroetorphine
- Dihydromorphine
- Dimenoxadol
- Dimethylthiambutene
- Dioxaphetyl butyrate
- Diphenoxylate not listed in Penalty Group 3 or 4
- Dipipanone
- Drotebanol
- Ethylmethylthiambutene
- Ethylmorphine not listed in Penalty Group 3 or 4
- Etonitazene
- Etorphine, except hydrochloride salt
- Etoxeridine
- Fentanyl or alpha-methylfentanyl, or any other derivative of Fentanyl
- Flunitrazepam
- Furethidine
- Gamma hydroxybutyric acid
- Granulated opium
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone not listed in Penalty Group 3
- Hydromorphinol
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxypethidine
- Isomethadone
- Ketamine
- Ketobemidone
- Levomethorphan
- Levophenacylmorphan
- Levorphanol
- lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
- Meprodine
- Metazocine
- Methadol
- Methadone-Intermediate, 4-cyano-2-dimethylamino- 4, 4-diphenyl butane
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Methyldesorphine
- Methyldihydromorphine
- Metopon
- Monoacetylmorphine
- Moramide
- Moramide-Intermediate, 2-methyl-3-morpholino-1, 1-diphenyl-propane-carboxylic acid
- Morpheridine
- Morphine methylbromide
- Morphine methylsulfonate
- Morphine not listed in Penalty Group 3
- Morphine-N-Oxide
- Myrophine
- Nicocodeine
- Nicomorphine
- Noracymethadol
- Norlevorphanol
- Normethadone
- Normorphine
- Norpipanone
- Opium extracts
- Opium fluid extracts
- Opium poppy and poppy straw
- Oripavine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Para-fluorofentanyl(N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-1-(2- phenylethyl)-4-piperidinylpropanamide)
- PEPAP (1-(2-phenethyl)-4-phenyl-4- acetoxypiperidine)
- Pethidine (Meperidine)
- Pethidine-Intermediate-A, 4-cyano-1-methyl-4- phenylpiperidine
- Pethidine-Intermediate-B, ethyl-4- phenylpiperidine-4 carboxylate
- Pethidine-Intermediate-C, 1-methyl-4- phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid
- Phenadoxone
- Phenampromide
- Phenazocine
- Phencyclidine
- Phenomorphan
- Phenoperidine
- Phenylacetone and methylamine, if possessed together with intent to manufacture methamphetamine
- Pholcodine and
- Piminodine
- Piritramide
- Powdered opium
- Proheptazine
- Properidine
- Propiram
- Racemethorphan
- Racemorphan
- Raw opium
- Remifentanil and
- Sufentanil
- Thebacon
- Thebaine and
- Thiofentanyl
- Tilidine and
- Tincture of opium
- Trimeperidine
Being convicted of a Penalty 1 or 1-A crime subjects a person to one of the following punishments:
- Less than one gram (or fewer than 20 units) – Up to $10,000 fine, at least 180 days in jail (and up to 2 years in prison), or both
- 1-3 grams (or 20-79 units) – up to $10,000 fine, 2-10 years in prison, or both.
- 4–199 grams (80-3,999 units) – up to $10,000 fine, 2-20 years in prison, or both
- 8–3,999 units – up to $10,000 fine, 5-20 years in prison, or both
- 200-399 grams – up to $100,000 fine, 5-99 years in prison, or both
- 400 grams or more – up to $100,000 fine, 10-99 years in prison, or both
- 4,000 units or more – up to $250,000 fine, 15-99 years in prison, or both
Penalty Group 2, 2-A
Penalties for this group, in addition to sub-group 2-A, applies to illegal possession of the following hallucinogenic, depressant or stimulant substances:
- 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (trade or other name: TFMPP)
- 1-(benzofuran-5-yl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine (5-MAPB)
- 1-(benzofuran-6-yl)-N-methylpropan-2-amine (6-MAPB)
- 1-methyl- 4-phenyl-4-propionoxypiperidine (MPPP, PPMP)
- 1-Phenylcyclohexylamine
- 1-Piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile (PCC)
- 1-pyrrolidine (some trade or other name: TCPy)
- 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone (some trade and other names: 2-MeO-ketamine methoxyketamine)
- 2-ethylamino-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanone (trade or other name: methoxetamine)
- 2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine (some trade or other names: 2, 5-dimethoxy-alpha-methylphenethylamine 2, 5-DMA)
- 2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamine and any compound structurally derived from 2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamine
- 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine
- 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA, MDM)
- 3,4-methylenedioxy N-ethylamphetamine (Also known as N-ethyl MDA)
- 3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine
- 4-methoxyamphetamine (some trade or other names: 4-methoxy-alpha-methylphenethylamine paramethoxyamphetamine PMA)
- 4-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA)
- 4-methyl-2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine (some trade and other names: 4-methyl-2, 5-dimethoxy-alpha- methylphenethylamine “DOM” “STP”)
- 4-methylaminorex
- 5-(2-aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-APDB)
- 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (5-APB)
- 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole (5-IT,5-API)
- 5-iodo-2-aminoindane (5-IAI)
- 5-methoxy-3, 4-methylenedioxy amphetamine
- 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI)
- 6-(2-aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (6-APDB)
- 6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (6-APB)
- 6-(2-aminopropyl)indole (6-IT,6-API)
- 8-bromo-alpha-methyl-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]difuran- 4-ethanamine (trade or other name: Bromo-DragonFLY)
- Aminorex (some trade or other names: aminoxaphen 2-amino-5-phenyl-2-oxazoline 4,5-dihydro-5- phenyl-2-oxazolamine)
- Amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers
- any compound structurally derived from 2-aminopropanal by substitution at the 1-position with any monocyclic or fused-polycyclic ring system
- any compound structurally derived from tryptamine (3-(2-aminoethyl)indole) or a ring-hydroxy tryptamine
- Benzothiophenylcyclohexylpiperidine (BTCP)
- Cannabinol derivatives
- Cathinone (some trade or other names: 2-amino-1- phenyl-1-propanone, alpha-aminopropiophenone, 2- aminopropiophenone)
- Cyclohexylphenol
- Desoxypipradrol (2-benzhydrylpiperidine)
- Diphenylprolinol (diphenyl(pyrrolidin-2-yl) methanol, D2PM)
- Dronabinol (synthetic)
- Etaqualone and its salts
- Ethylamine Analog of Phencyclidine (some trade or other names: N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, (1- phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine, N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine, cyclohexamine, PCE)
- Etorphine Hydrochloride
- Fenethylline and its salts
- Ibogaine (some trade or other names: 7-Ethyl-6, 6, beta 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13-octahydro-2-methoxy-6, 9-methano-5H- pyrido [1′, 2′:1, 2] azepino [5, 4-b] indole tabernanthe iboga.)
- Lisdexamfetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers
- Mecloqualone and its salts
- Mescaline
- Methaqualone and its salts
- Methcathinone (some trade or other names: 2- methylamino-propiophenone alpha-(methylamino)propriophenone 2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-one alpha-N- methylaminopropriophenone monomethylpropion ephedrone, N- methylcathinone methylcathinone AL-464 AL-422 AL-463 and UR 1431)
- N-benzylpiperazine (some trade or other names: BZP 1-benzylpiperazine)
- N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate
- N-Ethylamphetamine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers and
- N-hydroxy-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (Also known as N-hydroxy MDA)
- N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate
- N,N-dimethylamphetamine (some trade or other names: N,N,alpha-trimethylbenzeneethanamine N,N,alpha-trimethylphenethylamine), its salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers
- Nabilone (Another name for nabilone: (+)-trans- 3-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)- 6,6a, 7,8,10,10a-hexahydro-1-hydroxy- 6, 6-dimethyl-9H-dibenzo[b,d] pyran-9-one
- Parahexyl (some trade or other names: 3-Hexyl-1- hydroxy-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydro-6, 6, 9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo [b, d] pyran Synhexyl)
- Phenylacetone (some trade or other names: Phenyl-2-propanone P2P, Benzymethyl ketone, methyl benzyl ketone)
- Pyrrolidine Analog of Phencyclidine (some trade or other names: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-pyrrolidine, PCPy, PHP)
- Tetrahydrocannabinols, other than marihuana, and synthetic equivalents of the substances contained in the plant, or in the resinous extractives of Cannabis, or synthetic substances, derivatives, and their isomers with similar chemical structure and pharmacological activity
- Tetramethylcyclopropyl thiazole
- Thiophene Analog of Phencyclidine (some trade or other names: 1-[1-(2-thienyl) cyclohexyl] piperidine 2-Thienyl Analog of Phencyclidine TPCP, TCP)
Being convicted of a Penalty 2 or 2-A crime subjects a person to one of the following punishments:
- Less than one gram – Up to $10,000 fine, at least 180 days in jail (and up to 2 years in prison), or both
- 1-3 grams – up to $10,000 fine, 2-10 years in prison, or both.
- 4–399 grams – up to $10,000 fine, 2-20 years in prison, or both
- 400 grams or more – up to $50,000 fine, 5-99 years in prison, or both
Penalty Group 3
Penalties for this group applies to illegal possession of the following dangerous substances:
- 13beta-ethyl-17beta-hydroxygon-4-en-3-one
- 17alpha-methyl-3alpha, 17 beta-dihydroxy-5alpha- androstane
- 17alpha-methyl-3beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-5alpha- androstane
- 17alpha-methyl-3beta, 17beta-dihydroxyandrost-4- ene
- 17alpha-methyl-4-hydroxynandrolone
- 17alpha-methyl-delta-1-dihydrotestosterone
- 4-hydroxy-19-nortestosterone
- 4-hydroxytestosterone
- a compound, mixture, or preparation containing amobarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital, or any salt of any of these
- a material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing limited quantities of the following narcotic drugs, or any of their salts:
- more than 1.8 grams of codeine, or any of its salts, per 100 milliliters
- more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone (hydrocodone), or any of its salts, per 100 milliliters
- more than 300 milligrams of ethylmorphine, or any of its salts, per 100 milliliters
- more than 500 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams
- more than 50 milligrams of morphine, or any of its salts, per 100 milliliters
- a substance that contains any quantity of a derivative of barbituric acid, or any salt of a derivative of barbituric acid
- a suppository dosage form containing amobarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital, or any salt of any of these drugs
- Androstanediol
- Androstanedione
- Androstenediol
- Androstenedione
- Barbital
- Benzphetamine
- Bolasterone
- Boldenone
- Calusterone
- Cathine [(+)-norpseudoephedrine]
- Chloral betaine
- Chloral hydrate
- Chlorphentermine
- Clortermine
- Clostebol
- Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone
- Delta-1-dihydrotestosterone
- Dextropropoxyphene (Alpha-(+)-4-dimethylamino- 1,2-diphenyl-3-methyl-2-propionoxybutane)
- Diethylpropion
- Dihydrotestosterone (4-dihydrotestosterone)
- Drostanolone
- Ethchlorvynol
- Ethinamate
- Ethylestrenol
- Fencamfamin
- Fenfluramine
- Fenproporex
- Fluoxymesterone
- Formebulone
- Furazabol
- Mazindol
- Mefenorex
- Meprobamate
- Mestanolone
- Mesterolone
- Methandienone
- Methandriol
- Methenolone
- Methohexital
- Methyldienolone
- Methylphenidate and its salts and
- Methylphenobarbital (Mephobarbital)
- Methyltestosterone
- Methyltrienolone
- Mibolerone
- Modafinil
- Nalorphine
- Nandrolone
- Norandrostenediol
- Norandrostenedione
- Norbolethone
- Norclostebol
- Norethandrolone
- Normethandrolone
- Oxandrolone
- Oxymesterone
- Oxymetholone
- Paraldehyde
- Pemoline (including organometallic complexes and their chelates)
- Petrichloral and
- Peyote, unless unharvested and growing in its natural state
- Phendimetrazine
- Phenmetrazine and its salts
- Phenobarbital
- Phentermine
- Pipradrol
- Salvia divinorum, unless unharvested and growing in its natural state
- Sibutramine and
- SPA [(-)-1-dimethylamino-1,2-diphenylethane]
- Stanozolol
- Stenbolone
- Testolactone
- Testosterone
- Tetrahydrogestrinone and
- Trenbolone
Being convicted of a Penalty 3 crime subjects a person to one of the following punishments:
- Less than 28 grams – Up to $4,000 fine, at least 1 year in jail, or both
- 28-199 grams – up to $10,000 fine, 2-10 years in prison, or both.
- 200–399 grams – up to $10,000 fine, 2-20 years in prison, or both
- 400 grams or more – up to $50,000 fine, 5-99 years in prison, or both
Penalty Group 4
Penalties for this group applies to illegal possession of the following dangerous substances:
- a compound, mixture, or preparation containing limited quantities of any of the following narcotic drugs that includes one or more nonnarcotic active medicinal ingredients in sufficient proportion to confer on the compound, mixture, or preparation valuable medicinal qualities other than those possessed by the narcotic drug alone:
- more than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams
- more than 100 milligrams of dihydrocodeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams
- more than 100 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams
- more than 2.5 milligrams of diphenoxylate and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit
- more than 15 milligrams of opium per 29.5729 milliliters or per 28.35 grams
- more than 0.5 milligram of difenoxin and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit
- Buprenorphine or Butorphanol (unless specifically excepted)
- Pyrovalerone (unless specifically excepted)
Being convicted of a Penalty 4 crime subjects a person to one of the following punishments:
- Less than 28 grams – Up to $2,000 fine, at least 180 days in jail, or both
- 28-199 grams – up to $10,000 fine, 2-10 years in prison, or both.
- 200–399 grams – up to $10,000 fine, 2-20 years in prison, or both
- 400 grams or more – up to $50,000 fine, 5-99 years in prison, or both