Colorado statute
C.R.S. § 18-18-405 — Unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale.
Current through 2025 Regular Session
Part of Part 4: OFFENSES AND PENALTIES, Colorado Revised Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of C.R.S. § 18-18-405
Statutory text current through the 2025 Regular Session. This is an officially sanctioned publication using the official text of the Colorado Revised Statutes; it is not the official statutes of the State of Colorado.
(1) (a) Except as authorized by part 1 of article 280 of title 12, part 2 of article 80 of title 27, part 2 or 3 of this article 18, section 18-18-434, article 170 of title 12, or article 50 of title 44, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, or to possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance; or induce, attempt to induce, or conspire with one or more other persons, to manufacture, dispense, sell, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute, a controlled substance; or possess one or more chemicals or supplies or equipment with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. (b) As used in this subsection (1), "dispense" does not include labeling, as defined in section 12-280-103 (23). (2) Except as otherwise provided for an offense concerning marijuana and marijuana concentrate in section 18-18-406 and for special offenders as provided in section 18-18-407, any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section: (a) Commits a level 1 drug felony and is subject to the mandatory sentencing provisions in section 18-1.3-401.5 (7) if: (I) The violation involves any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that weighs: (A) More than two hundred twenty-five grams and contains a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance; or (B) More than one hundred twelve grams and contains methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, or cathinones; or (C) More than fifty milligrams and contains flunitrazepam; or (D) More than fifty grams and contains fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof as described in section 18-18-204 (2)(g); or (II) An adult sells, dispenses, distributes, or otherwise transfers any quantity of a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance or any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains any amount of a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance, other than marijuana or marijuana concentrate, to a minor and the adult is at least two years older than the minor; (III) (A) Except as provided in section 18-1-711 (3)(i), the defendant committed a violation of subsection (2)(a)(I)(D), (2)(b)(I)(D), or (2)(c)(V) of this section, and the actions in violation of subsection (2)(a)(I)(D), (2)(b)(I)(D), or (2)(c)(V) of this section are the proximate cause of the death of another person who used or consumed the material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contained fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof as described in section 18-18-204 (2)(g). (B) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(a)(III)(A) of this section, a defendant who committed a violation of subsection (2)(c)(V) of this section, and the actions in violation of subsection (2)(c)(V) of this section are the proximate cause of the death of another person who used or consumed the material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contained fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof as described in section 18-18-204 (2)(g), is not subject to the mandatory sentencing requirement as described in section 18-1.3-401.5 (7). (b) Commits a level 2 drug felony if: (I) The violation involves any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that weighs: (A) More than fourteen grams, but not more than two hundred twenty-five grams, and contains a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance; (B) More than seven grams, but not more than one hundred twelve grams, and contains methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, or cathinones; (C) More than ten milligrams, but not more than fifty milligrams, and contains flunitrazepam; or (D) More than four grams, but not more than fifty grams, and contains fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof as described in section 18-18-204 (2)(g); (II) An adult sells, dispenses, distributes, or otherwise transfers any quantity of a schedule III or schedule IV controlled substance or any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains any quantity of a schedule III or schedule IV controlled substance to a minor and the adult is at least two years older than the minor; (c) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section, commits a level 3 drug felony if the violation involves any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that weighs: (I) Not more than fourteen grams and contains a schedule I or schedule II controlled substance; (II) Not more than seven grams and contains methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, or cathinones; (III) Not more than ten milligrams and contains flunitrazepam; (IV) More than four grams and contains a schedule III or schedule IV controlled substance; or (V) Not more than four grams and contains fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof as described in section 18-18-204 (2)(g). (d) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section or section 18-1-711 (3)(j), commits a level 4 drug felony if: (I) The violation involves any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that weighs not more than four grams and contains a schedule III or schedule IV controlled substance; or (II) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c) of this subsection (2), the violation involves distribution or transfer of the controlled substance for the purpose of consuming all of the controlled substance with another person or persons at a time substantially contemporaneous with the transfer; except that this subparagraph (II) applies only if the distribution or transfer involves not more than four grams of a schedule I or II controlled substance or not more than two grams of methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, or cathinones; (e) Commits a level 1 drug misdemeanor if the violation involves: (I) A schedule V controlled substance; or (II) A transfer with no remuneration of not more than four grams of a schedule III or schedule IV controlled substance. (2.1) Repealed. (2.3) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2010, (HB 10-1352), ch. 259, p. 1163, § 3, effective August 11, 2010.) (b) Repealed. (2.5) to (4) Repealed. (5) When a person commits unlawful distribution, manufacture, dispensing, sale, or possession with intent to manufacture, dispense, sell, or distribute any schedule I or schedule II controlled substance, as listed in section 18-18-203 or 18-18-204, flunitrazepam, ketamine, or cathinones, or conspires with one or more persons to commit the offense, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, twice or more within a period of six months, without having been placed in jeopardy for the prior offense or offenses, the aggregate amount of the schedule I or schedule II controlled substance, flunitrazepam, ketamine, or cathinones involved may be used to determine the level of drug offense. (6) and (7) Repealed. (8) Except for a prosecution for manufacturing, a person commits a level 1 drug misdemeanor for a violation of subsection (2)(c)(I), (2)(c)(II), (2)(c)(V), or (2)(d) of this section if: (a) The distribution, dispensing, transfer, or sale involves a material, compound, mixture, or preparation that weighs not more than four grams and contains any amount of a controlled substance identified in subsection (2)(c)(I), (2)(c)(II), (2)(c)(V), or (2)(d) of this section; (b) The defendant reports in good faith an emergency drug overdose event to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider, or the defendant aids or seeks aid for the person who suffered the emergency drug overdose; (c) The defendant remains at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives or the defendant remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer arrives; (d) The defendant identifies himself or herself and cooperates with the law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder, or medical provider; and (e) The offense arises from the same course of events from which the emergency overdose event arose.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale ranges from a level 1 drug misdemeanor to a level 3 drug felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-18-405.
Level 3 drug felony — smaller weight thresholds: level 3 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-18-405(2)(c)) · Level 4 drug felony — small schedule III/IV amount or social sharing: level 4 drug felony (C.R.S. § 18-18-405(2)(d)) · Level 1 drug misdemeanor — schedule V or minor transfer: level 1 drug misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-18-405(2)(e)) · Level 1 drug misdemeanor — overdose reporting exception for small amounts: level 1 drug misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-18-405(8))
Which Colorado statute covers unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale?
Unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale is governed by C.R.S. § 18-18-405 (Unlawful distribution, manufacturing, dispensing, or sale).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.