Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102 (2026)

Criminal Possession Of Dangerous Drugs

✓ current as of May 2026
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TITLE 45. CRIMES

CHAPTER 9. DANGEROUS DRUGS

Part 1. Offenses Involving Dangerous Drugs

Criminal Possession Of Dangerous Drugs

45-9-102. Criminal possession of dangerous drugs. (1) Except as provided in Title 16, chapter 12, or 50-32-609, a person commits the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs if the person possesses any dangerous drug, as defined in 50-32-101, [in an amount] greater than permitted or for which a penalty is not specified under Title 16, chapter 12.

(2) A person convicted of criminal possession of dangerous drugs shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000, or both.

(3) A person convicted of a first violation under this section is presumed to be entitled to a deferred imposition of sentence of imprisonment.

(4) Ultimate users and practitioners, as defined in 50-32-101, and agents under their supervision acting in the course of a professional practice are exempt from this section.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 314, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 228, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 412, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 174, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 359, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 584, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 54-133; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 198, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 612, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 3, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 42, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 88, Ch. 114, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 12, I.M. No. 148, approved Nov. 2, 2004; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 277, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 156, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 135, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 253, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 321, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 42, I.M. No. 190, approved Nov. 3, 2020; amd. Sec. 70, Ch. 576, L. 2021.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 243 cases (37 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: State v. Rosling, 2008 MT 62 (Mont. 2008).
State v. Rosling, 2008 MT 62 (Mont. 2008). · cites it 14× “MCA (commonly known as the felony-murder rule); Count III — aggravated kidnapping, in violation of § 45-5-303(1)(c), MCA; Count IV — aggravated burglary, in violation of § 45-6-204(2)(b), MCA; Count V — tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, in violation of §…”
State v. Tadewaldt, 922 P.2d 463 (Mont. 1996). · cites it 27× “Did the District Court err in concluding that § 45-9-102, MCA, does not deny Tadewaldt equal protection of the laws or constitute cruel and unusual punishment? Tadewaldt was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) on August 10,1994.”
State v. Meader, 601 P.2d 386 (Mont. 1979). · cites it 30× “Defendant, Gerald William Meader, appeals from a conviction in the District Court, Yellowstone County, of two counts of possessing dangerous drugs in violation of section 45-9-102 MCA. Following denial of all of Meader's post-conviction motions by the District Court, Meader…”
State v. Upshaw, 2006 MT 341 (Mont. 2006). · cites it 20× “On November 21, 2003, the State filed an amended information, which added count IV: criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, as specified in § 45-9-102, MCA (2003). At a pretrial conference, Upshaw's counsel declared an intention to file a motion in limine to preclude…”
State v. Tomaskie, 2007 MT 103 (Mont. 2007). · cites it 24× “We conclude that the reasoning in Gladue applies to Tomaskie’s charge of possession under § 45-9-102, MCA. The Havre City Court conviction for the previous offense of possession of less than sixty grams of marijuana was dismissed prior to the time Tomaskie was sentenced and…”
State v. Clark, 1998 MT 221 (Mont. 1998). · cites it 22× “On April 3, 1996, the State filed an information charging Clark with two felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, in violation of § 45-9-102, MCA. The State also charged Clark with misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, in violation of §…”
State v. Long, 2005 MT 130 (Mont. 2005). · cites it 12× “For example, under § 45-9-102, MCA, possessing more than a certain quantity of marijuana or hashish (§ 45-9-102(2), MCA) can turn a misdemeanor into a felony (§ 45-9-102(5), MCA).”
State v. Pearson, 704 P.2d 1056 (Mont. 1985). · cites it 19× “This is an appeal from a judgment of the District Court, Tenth Judicial District, Judith Basin County, declaring Clinton Charles Pearson guilty of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in violation of Section 45-9-102, MCA. During the early morning hours of March 10, 1984,…”
State v. Garrymore, 2006 MT 245 (Mont. 2006). · cites it 6× “Yet, McLeod had been sentenced to a term of imprisonment within the range statutorily authorized by § 45-9-102, MCA, for the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs (he was given the maximum five-year sentence, see McLeod , ¶ 11 ), and he was not challenging the…”
State v. Crowder, 810 P.2d 299 (Mont. 1991). · cites it 10× “In contrast, Crowder was charged with two violations of the same statutory provision, § 45-9-102, MCA, which provides in part: A person commits the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs if he possesses any dangerous drug, as defined in XX-XX-XXX.”
State v. Kotwicki, 2007 MT 17 (Mont. 2007). · cites it 4× “¶ 1 Ramon Kotwicki (Kotwicki) appeals from the sentence imposed by the Eighth *893 Judicial District, Cascade County, following his conviction for five felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in violation of § 45-9-102, MCA, and four other misdemeanor drug…”
State v. Mason, 2003 MT 371 (Mont. 2003). · cites it 6× “Pursuant to a plea bargain agreement, all charges against Mason were dismissed except for two counts of assault, felonies in violation of § 45-5-201(l)(a), MCA (1997), and one count of criminal possession of a dangerous drug, a felony in violation of § 45-9-102(1), MCA (1999).…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(1) — 38 cases
State v. Clark, 1998 MT 221 (Mont. 1998). “On April 3, 1996, the State filed an information charging Clark with two felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, in violation of § 45-9-102, MCA. The State also charged Clark with misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, in violation of §…”
State v. Rosling, 2008 MT 62 (Mont. 2008). “MCA (commonly known as the felony-murder rule); Count III — aggravated kidnapping, in violation of § 45-5-303(1)(c), MCA; Count IV — aggravated burglary, in violation of § 45-6-204(2)(b), MCA; Count V — tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, in violation of §…”
State v. Krum, 777 P.2d 889 (Mont. 1989).
State v. Crowder, 810 P.2d 299 (Mont. 1991). “In contrast, Crowder was charged with two violations of the same statutory provision, § 45-9-102, MCA, which provides in part: A person commits the offense of criminal possession of dangerous drugs if he possesses any dangerous drug, as defined in XX-XX-XXX.”
State v. Mason, 2003 MT 371 (Mont. 2003). “Pursuant to a plea bargain agreement, all charges against Mason were dismissed except for two counts of assault, felonies in violation of § 45-5-201(l)(a), MCA (1997), and one count of criminal possession of a dangerous drug, a felony in violation of § 45-9-102(1), MCA (1999).…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(1)(4) — 1 case
State v. Pinex, 377 Mont. 132 (Mont. 2014).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(2) — 26 cases
State v. Tomaskie, 2007 MT 103 (Mont. 2007). “We conclude that the reasoning in Gladue applies to Tomaskie’s charge of possession under § 45-9-102, MCA. The Havre City Court conviction for the previous offense of possession of less than sixty grams of marijuana was dismissed prior to the time Tomaskie was sentenced and…”
State v. Long, 2005 MT 130 (Mont. 2005). “For example, under § 45-9-102, MCA, possessing more than a certain quantity of marijuana or hashish (§ 45-9-102(2), MCA) can turn a misdemeanor into a felony (§ 45-9-102(5), MCA).”
State v. W. Harning, 2022 MT 61 (Mont. 2022).
State v. Johnson, 2012 MT 101 (Mont. 2012).
State v. Mason, 2003 MT 371 (Mont. 2003). “Pursuant to a plea bargain agreement, all charges against Mason were dismissed except for two counts of assault, felonies in violation of § 45-5-201(l)(a), MCA (1997), and one count of criminal possession of a dangerous drug, a felony in violation of § 45-9-102(1), MCA (1999).…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(3) — 10 cases
State v. Pearson, 704 P.2d 1056 (Mont. 1985). “This is an appeal from a judgment of the District Court, Tenth Judicial District, Judith Basin County, declaring Clinton Charles Pearson guilty of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in violation of Section 45-9-102, MCA. During the early morning hours of March 10, 1984,…”
State v. Larsen, 425 P.3d 694 (Mont. 2018).
State v. T.Thibeault, 2021 MT 162 (Mont. 2021).
State v. Willson, 818 P.2d 1199 (Mont. 1991).
State v. E. Doubek, 2021 MT 76 (Mont. 2021).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(4) — 10 cases
State v. T.Thibeault, 2021 MT 162 (Mont. 2021).
State v. Pearson, 704 P.2d 1056 (Mont. 1985). “This is an appeal from a judgment of the District Court, Tenth Judicial District, Judith Basin County, declaring Clinton Charles Pearson guilty of criminal possession of dangerous drugs in violation of Section 45-9-102, MCA. During the early morning hours of March 10, 1984,…”
State v. E. Doubek, 2021 MT 76 (Mont. 2021).
State v. Stevens, 434 P.3d 904 (Mont. 2019).
State v. Heinrich, 788 P.2d 1346 (Mont. 1990).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(5) — 9 cases
State v. Tadewaldt, 922 P.2d 463 (Mont. 1996). “Did the District Court err in concluding that § 45-9-102, MCA, does not deny Tadewaldt equal protection of the laws or constitute cruel and unusual punishment? Tadewaldt was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) on August 10,1994.”
State v. Upshaw, 2006 MT 341 (Mont. 2006). “On November 21, 2003, the State filed an amended information, which added count IV: criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, as specified in § 45-9-102, MCA (2003). At a pretrial conference, Upshaw's counsel declared an intention to file a motion in limine to preclude…”
State v. Long, 2005 MT 130 (Mont. 2005). “For example, under § 45-9-102, MCA, possessing more than a certain quantity of marijuana or hashish (§ 45-9-102(2), MCA) can turn a misdemeanor into a felony (§ 45-9-102(5), MCA).”
State v. Bolt, 664 P.2d 322 (Mont. 1983).
State v. Erickson, 2005 MT 276 (Mont. 2005).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(6) — 22 cases
State v. Upshaw, 2006 MT 341 (Mont. 2006). “On November 21, 2003, the State filed an amended information, which added count IV: criminal possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, as specified in § 45-9-102, MCA (2003). At a pretrial conference, Upshaw's counsel declared an intention to file a motion in limine to preclude…”
State v. Charlie, 2010 MT 195 (Mont. 2010).
State v. Tadewaldt, 922 P.2d 463 (Mont. 1996). “Did the District Court err in concluding that § 45-9-102, MCA, does not deny Tadewaldt equal protection of the laws or constitute cruel and unusual punishment? Tadewaldt was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) on August 10,1994.”
State v. Stevens, 434 P.3d 904 (Mont. 2019).
State v. T.Thibeault, 2021 MT 162 (Mont. 2021).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(7) — 2 cases
State v. Walter, 431 P.3d 22 (Mont. 2018).
State v. Peone, 2014 MT 124N (Mont. 2014).
— Mont. Code Ann. § 45-9-102(8) — 1 case
State v. Temple, 2016 MT 284 (Mont. 2016).
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