Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts

Re: juvenile possession and dealing of illegal substance

The maximum penalty for selling marijuana for a juvenille would be commitment to the custody of the Department of Youth Services until either age 18 or 19. In Massachusetts, once a person turns 17, that person is subject to the adult criminal laws. As an adult, a person selling marijuana within a 1000 feet of a school zone is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence (no parole, no time off for good behavior) of 2 years in the house of correction. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 94C. Also, conviction of distribution of any drugs can result in suspension of ones right to drive for 2 years and can render the defendant ineligible for federally guaranteed student loans for a period of time. If the individual is not a citizen, conviction of a drug offense can result in deportation, exclusion or denial of naturalization.