2011 Montana Code Annotated
TITLE 45. CRIMES
CHAPTER 9. DANGEROUS DRUGS
Part 1. Offenses Involving Dangerous Drugs
45-9-102. Criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

45-9-102. Criminal possession of dangerous drugs. (1) Except as provided in Title 50, chapter 46, a person commits the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs if the person possesses any dangerous drug, as defined in 50-32-101.
(2) A person convicted of criminal possession of marijuana or its derivatives in an amount the aggregate weight of which does not exceed 60 grams of marijuana or 1 gram of hashish is, for the first offense, guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 and by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months. The minimum fine must be imposed as a condition of a suspended or deferred sentence. A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this subsection is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 1 year or in the state prison for a term not to exceed 3 years or by both. This subsection does not apply to the possession of synthetic cannabinoids listed as dangerous drugs in 50-32-222.
(3) A person convicted of criminal possession of an anabolic steroid as listed in 50-32-226 is, for the first offense, guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months, or both.
(4) A person convicted of criminal possession of an opiate, as defined in 50-32-101(19), shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 5 years and may be fined not more than $50,000, except as provided in 46-18-222.
(5) (a) A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of criminal possession of methamphetamine shall be punished by:
(i) imprisonment for a term not to exceed 5 years or by a fine not to exceed $50,000, or both; or
(ii) commitment to the department of corrections for placement in an appropriate correctional facility or program for a term of not less than 3 years or more than 5 years. If the person successfully completes a residential methamphetamine treatment program operated or approved by the department of corrections during the first 3 years of a term, the remainder of the term must be suspended. The court may also impose a fine not to exceed $50,000.
(b) During the first 3 years of a term under subsection (5)(a)(ii), the department of corrections may place the person in a residential methamphetamine treatment program operated or approved by the department of corrections or in a correctional facility or program. The residential methamphetamine treatment program must consist of time spent in a residential methamphetamine treatment facility and time spent in a community-based prerelease center.
(c) The court shall, as conditions of probation pursuant to subsection (5)(a), order:
(i) the person to abide by the standard conditions of probation established by the department of corrections;
(ii) payment of the costs of imprisonment, probation, and any methamphetamine treatment by the person if the person is financially able to pay those costs;
(iii) that the person may not enter an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises or where gambling takes place;
(iv) that the person may not consume alcoholic beverages;
(v) the person to enter and remain in an aftercare program as directed by the person's probation officer; and
(vi) the person to submit to random or routine drug and alcohol testing.
(6) A person convicted of criminal possession of dangerous drugs not otherwise provided for in subsections (2) through (5) shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both.
(7) A person convicted of a first violation under this section is presumed to be entitled to a deferred imposition of sentence of imprisonment.
(8) Ultimate users and practitioners, as defined in 50-32-101, and agents under their supervision acting in the course of a professional practice are exempt from this section.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 314, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 228, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 412, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 174, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 359, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 584, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 54-133; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 198, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 612, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 3, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 42, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 88, Ch. 114, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 12, I.M. No. 148, approved Nov. 2, 2004; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 277, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 156, L. 2011.