Amphetamine is a strong physical and mental stimulant available in both prescription and street forms. Street and brand names: Speed; Dex; Meth, Adderall; Dexamphetamine; Vyvanse. Methamphetamine is classified as an amphetamine type substance under Connecticut law.

Definition of the Drug

Methamphetamine is classified as an amphetamine type substance under Connecticut law. Amphetamine Type Substances Definition: Relevant Statutes Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-240

(4) “Amphetamine-type substances” include amphetamine, optical isomers thereof, salts of amphetamine and its isomers, and chemical compounds which are similar thereto in chemical structure or which are similar thereto in physiological effect, and which show a like potential for abuse, which are controlled substances under this chapter unless modified.

Simple Possession

Misdemeanors are less-serious crimes. The consequences for misdemeanor convictions are generally less severe than for felony convictions. They are generally punishable by a fine or incarceration in the county jail for less than one year. A person with a misdemeanor crime on their record may still be able to serve on a jury, practice the professions, and vote.

First offenders possessing an amphetamine type substance will be charged with misdemeanor or “simple” possession.

Penalties for Simple Possession

For a first conviction of simple possession, you are facing up to one year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

Felony Possession

Felonies are the most serious crimes in any system of criminal law. A standard definition of a felony is any crime punishable by more than one year in prison or by death.

Often the offense itself is not labeled as a felony, but the punishment tells the public that the offense is a felony. Additionally, statutes may label a crime a “gross” or “aggravated” misdemeanor but provide for a sentence of more than one year in the state penitentiary system, ensuring that the offense is treated as felony in many respects.

A person convicted of a felony may have more restrictions on their rights than a person convicted of a lesser crime. In many jurisdictions, felons cannot serve on juries. Often times they lose their right to vote or to practice certain professions, such as lawyer or teacher. Felons may be prohibited from owning guns or serving in the military.

Second offenders of simple possession will be charged with felony possession.

Penalties for Felony Possession

For a second or (subsequent) conviction of possession of an amphetamine type substance you are facing up to five years in jail and up to a $3,000 fine.

Penalties for Possession of an Amphetamine Type Substance: Relevant Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279(c). Penalty for illegal possession.

(c) Any person who possesses or has under their control any quantity of any controlled substance other than a narcotic substance, or a hallucinogenic substance other than marijuana or who possesses or has under thei control less than four ounces of a cannabis-type substance, except as authorized in this chapter, for a first offense, may be fined not more than one thousand dollars or be imprisoned not more than one year, or be both fined and imprisoned; and for a subsequent offense, may be fined not more than three thousand dollars or be imprisoned not more than five years, or be both fined and imprisoned.

Possession with Intent to Sell

Please see our pages on possession with intent to see for a detailed discussion on what act or acts constitute this crime.

Penalties for Possession of Heroin with Intent to Sell

a. Sale of Any Amount of an Amphetamine Type Substance by a Drug Dependant Person.

For a first conviction of possession of an amphetamine type substance with intent to sell you are facing up to seven years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine. For a second (or subsequent) conviction of possession of an amphetamine type substance with intent to sell you are facing up to 15 years in prison or up to a $100,000 fine.

There is also an alternative sentence of up to a three year indeterminate sentence with conditional release.

b. Sale of Any Amount of an Amphetamine Type Substance by a Non-drug dependant Person.

For a first conviction of the sale of any amount of an amphetamine type substance by a non-drug dependent person you are facing a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison.

For a second or subsequent conviction of the sale of any amount of an amphetamine type substance by a non-drug dependent person you are facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to 25 years in prison.

Penalties for Possession of an Amphetamine Type Substance with Intent to Sell: Relevant Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-277. Penalty for illegal manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription, dispensing

(b) Any person who manufactures, distributes, sells, prescribes, dispenses, compounds, transports with intent to sell or dispense, possesses with intent to sell or dispense, offers, gives or administers to another person any controlled substance, except a narcotic substance, or a hallucinogenic substance other than marijuana, except as authorized in this chapter, may, for the first offense, be fined not more than twenty-five thousand dollars or be imprisoned not more than seven years or be both fined and imprisoned; and, for each subsequent offense, may be fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars or be imprisoned not more than fifteen years, or be both fined and imprisoned.

(d) As an alternative to the sentences specified in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the court may sentence the person to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction for an indeterminate term not to exceed three years or the maximum term specified for the offense, whichever is the lesser, and, at any time within such indeterminate term and without regard to any other provision of law regarding minimum term of confinement, the Commissioner of Correction may release the convicted person so sentenced subject to such conditions as he may impose including, but not limited to, supervision by suitable authority. At any time during such indeterminate term, the Commissioner of Correction may revoke any such conditional release in their discretion for violation of the conditions imposed and return the convicted person to a correctional institution.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-278. Penalty for illegal manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription or administration by non-drug-dependent person

(b) Any person who manufactures, distributes, sells, prescribes, dispenses, compounds, transports with the intent to sell or dispense, possesses with the intent to sell or dispense, offers, gives or administers to another person any narcotic substance, hallucinogenic substance other than marijuana, amphetamine-type substance, or one kilogram or more of a cannabis-type substance, except as authorized in this chapter, and who is not, at the time of such action, a drug dependent person, for a first offense shall be imprisoned not less than five years or more than twenty years; and for each subsequent offense shall be imprisoned not less than ten years or more than twenty-five years. The execution of the mandatory minimum sentence imposed by the provisions of this subsection shall not be suspended, except the court may suspend the execution of such mandatory minimum sentence if at the time of the commission of the offense (1) such person was under the age of eighteen years, or (2) such person’s mental capacity was significantly impaired, but not so impaired as to constitute a defense to prosecution.

Penalties for Possession Near a Prohibited Place

You are facing up to three years in prison, to be served consecutively in addition to any prison time for the underlying offense.

Penalties for Possession Near a Prohibited Place: Relevant Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-278a. Penalty for illegal manufacture, distribution, sale, prescription or administration

(b) Any person who violates section 21a-277 or 21a-278 by manufacturing, distributing, selling, prescribing, dispensing, compounding, transporting with the intent to sell or dispense, possessing with the intent to sell or dispense, offering, giving or administering to another person any controlled substance in or on, or within one thousand five hundred feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, a public housing project or a licensed child day care center, as defined in section 19a-77, that is identified as a child day care center by a sign posted in a conspicuous place shall be imprisoned for a term of three years, which shall not be suspended and shall be in addition and consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed for violation of section 21a-277 or 21a-278. To constitute a violation of this subsection, an act of transporting or possessing a controlled substance shall be with intent to sell or dispense in or on, or within one thousand five hundred feet of, the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school, a public housing project or a licensed child day care center, as defined in section 19a-77, that is identified as a child day care center by a sign posted in a conspicuous place. For the purposes of this subsection, “public housing project” means dwelling accommodations operated as a state or federally subsidized multifamily housing project by a housing authority, nonprofit corporation or municipal developer, as defined in section 8-39, pursuant to chapter 128 or by the Connecticut Housing Authority pursuant to chapter 129.