Nebraska drug laws

Nebraska drug laws: one of the toughest in the country

Attitudes on drugs use laws have over the years been changing with many states across the United States loosening their stands, but Nebraska stands firm. Depending on what drugs and controlled dangerous substance (CDS) mean to each state, Nebraska has remained conventional with its approach to drugs.  It classifies the CDS into five sections according to the level of abuse and addiction. Drugs like heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana as well as compounds that are involved in the manufacture of the substances fall in section I which encompasses the most dangerous drugs. The sections cascade to section V of less abused substances.

Of all the controlled substances, marijuana is the most preferred drug among Nebraskan users. Western counties of the state are being flooded with high-grade weed from the neighboring state of Colorado and this is a great menace to the authorities.

Possession, sale, transfer and distribution of drugs in Nebraska

Laws governing the possession of controlled substances vary according to the type of drug possessed, the amount in quantity in possession among other factors like prior offenses and so on. Controlled substances would roughly earn you a jail term of up to 5 years, probation, parole, loss of certain rights to fines of up to $10,000.

Marijuana possession

Though possession of the section I CDS is illegal, Nebraska, along 15 other states, has decriminalized the possession of marijuana that amounts to less an ounce and will never go to prison for it. The first charge of possession is a civil infraction that is punishable by a fine of up to $300. The second offense of possession of similar amounts is a misdemeanor attracting only a fine of up to $500. The third and subsequent charges would still be a misdemeanor with the same fine of $500 but also incarceration of at least 7 days.

Possession of marijuana of between one ounce and one pound attracts a fine of $500 as well as incarceration of up to 3 months.   Any amounts that exceed 1 pound, that’s a felony and you are incarcerated for 5 years or a fine of up to $10,000 or both.

Sale of marijuana

The state of Nebraska is very keen when it comes to the sale or intent to sell and is taken with a more serious manner as compared to possession. The sale of any amount will attract a mandatory prison sentence with a minimum of one year to twenty years alongside a $25,000 fine or both.

Selling to minors is a far worse felony. With distances of within 1,000 feet of a school or between 100-1,000 feet of public social areas will attract a sentence of 1 to 50 years with no room for fine, depending on the amount of weed and the mercies of the judge. For similar subsequent charges, a minimum of 3 to 50 years is served as well, with no room for fines.

Cultivation of weed is treated the same way as the sale with the penalties attracting the same charges.

Cocaine

This is powdered or crystal crystalline tropane alkaloid derived from cocoa plant. Just a single trace in your possession leads to $10,000 in fines and mandatory minimum imprisonment of a minimum of 5 years.

Sale and distribution of cocaine

The penalties for the sale or intent to sell depend on the amount of cocaine one is found with. For

• 10-28 grams, it is a felony attracting 3-50 years in prison.
• 28-140 g, attract a minimum of 5 years to 50 years in prison
• Over 140g you serve 20 years to life in prison.
• Sale of any amount to minor within 1,000 feet of school perimeter attracts 20 years to life in prison.

Heroin

The possession of opiate heroine is a felony and carries detrimental penalties to the perpetrators. Any traceable amount leads to a minimum of 5 years imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000.

Sale and distribution of heroin

It is a felony to sell heroin in Nebraska. Depending on the amount of heroin, charges of selling attract the following charges.

• 28-100 g leads to 3 - 50 years in prison (3 years mandatory minimum)
• 100-500 g leads to 5 - 50 years in prison (5 years mandatory minimum)
• Over 500 g leads to 20 years to life in prison
• Sale of any amount to minor within 1,000 feet of school perimeter attracts 20 years to life imprisonment.

Crystal Meth

This is a neurotoxin drug categorized as a potentially dangerous drug by the state of Nebraska. Penalties are similar to the cocaine charges with a minimum of 5 years in prison and fines amounting to $10,000.

Avoiding prison in Nebraska

Drug courts in Nebraska are working hand in hand with rehabilitation centers to help non-violent drug offenders a chance to change and serve their term outside of prison. With periodic drug testing and intense supervision as well as reports to the judges, non-violent offenders with not more than one prior felony stand better chances.

Drug testing

Employment is the major reason why Nebraskans have to undergo a drug test. Like most states, Nebraska employers are mandated to impose periodic drug tests to their employees. New employees as well should be examined and no person with any quantity of drugs in their body should be employed, rather should be reported to the police.

Use of detoxification products in Nebraska

The dire need for acing in the drug tests have really skyrocketed the need for detox products. Detoxification products are vastly used in Nebraska and they are easily available at local stores. The products are legal and stores must be licensed in order to sell them.

THC detox products are the most readily available detox products in Nebraska since marijuana is the most commonly used drug. Depending on the timeframes needed for detoxification, these products aid in clearing all forms of THC leaving your body super clean.

Conclusion

Staying out of prison for drug-related charges in Nebraska is pretty simple. Avoid drugs! If need be, smoke less than an ounce of marijuana and never be found. Anything more than that is ideally some reflection time behind bars.  With the neighboring states like Colorado legalizing weed, Nebraska’s governor, Pete Ricketts, highly disputes the legalization of marijuana in a column headlined “Marijuana is a dangerous drug”. There are currently two marijuana legalization efforts that are geared to see Nebraskans vote in 2018 for the legalization and removal of any charges for the possession of any amount less than an ounce.