Although Wyoming shares a border with Colorado, which has legalized Cannabis, Marijuana in Wyoming is still outlawed and statutes are stringent and strictly enforced. It is crucial to be well-informed about the legal landscape if you find yourself facing charges related to marijuana possession, distribution, cultivation, or any other related offenses. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions.
The Wyoming Controlled Substances act, W.S. § 35–7–1001, et seq, criminalizes the possession of marijuana in any quantity. Often the ticket or citation will be written as “possession of a controlled substance (plant form),” and won’t specify what plant you’re accused of possessing.
W.S. § 35–7–1031(c)(i)(A) makes it a misdemeanor to possess any quantity up to three ounces, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1000. This is true even if all you have is a pipe with trace amounts. A third conviction over the course of your lifetime can be charged as a felony, and can land you in the state penitentiary for up to five years.
Possession of more than three ounces is a felony, punishable by up to five years and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Keep in mind that if you were to bring, for example, brownies, to Wyoming the statute may cause you problems, because it notes that in determining weight, officials are to include “the weight of the controlled substance and the weight of any carrier element, cutting agent, diluting agent or any other substance excluding packaging material.”
Theoretically, a pound of brownies, even they include less than half-an-ounce of pot, could be classified as a felony, since flour, chocolate and sugar would fall into the category of “any carrier element, cutting agent, diluting agent or any other substance….”
There are Federal consequences, too. Even a simple misdemeanor drug conviction will result in your being barred from receiving Title IV financial aid for one year for a first offense and two years for a second.
For more information, please check out NORML’s excellent and thorough guide to penalties for possession in Wyoming and nationwide: Wyoming Penalties