Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (2026)

Criminal offenses and penalties

✓ current as of May 2026
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Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 957,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 386, s 3, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 386, s 2, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 201, Secs.s 1, s 2, s 3 eff. 4/25/2019.

Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 970,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.

Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 991, § 1; 1990, ch. 1030, § 30; 1992, ch. 700, §§ 4, 5; 1992, ch. 878, § 4; 1994, ch. 703, § 1; 1996, ch. 928, §§ 1-3; 1997 , ch. 107, § 3; 1998, ch. 1079, §§ 1, 3, 4, 6, 7; 2003 , ch. 331, § 1; 2004, ch. 845, §§ 1 - 3; 2005, ch. 18, § 15; 2005, ch. 322, § 1; 2012 , ch. 852, § 1.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,099 cases (157 in the last 5 years), 1990–2026 · leading case: Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009).
Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009). · cites it 22× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (j)(5) (Supp.”
State v. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d 514 (Tenn. 2007). · cites it 10× “In particular, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-432(b) provides as follows: A violation of § 39-17-417, or a conspiracy to violate such section, that occurs on the grounds or facilities of any school or within one thousand feet (1,000') of the real property that comprises…”
State v. Smith, 48 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). · cites it 26× “(4) The Drug-Free School Zone Act enhances penalties for violations of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 which occur, as in the appellant’s case, beyond regular school hours of operation.”
State of Tennessee v. Stanley Bernard Gibson, 506 S.W.3d 450 (Tenn. 2016). · cites it 15× “He was convicted of the lesser-included charge of facilitation of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, which is a Class C felony—the felony class next below the felony facilitated. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39 -ll-403(b).”
State v. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d 540 (Tenn. 1999). · cites it 9× “1994) states in pertinent part: "A violation of [ Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (a)] with respect to: Cocaine is a Class B felony if the amount involved is point five (.”
State v. Wilson, 31 S.W.3d 189 (Tenn. 2000). · cites it 15× “On appeal, Wilson contended, inter aha, that the indictments were insufficient because they did not allege the essential culpable mental state, “knowingly,” as required by Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417 and that the trial court erred because Wilson was incompetent to plead guilty.”
State v. Ross, 49 S.W.3d 833 (Tenn. 2001). · cites it 6× “NOTES [1] To put this amount in perspective, the quantity of cocaine found by officers from room 132 was more than 100 times the minimum amount needed to charge the defendant with a Class B felony.”
United States v. Angelo Goldston, 906 F.3d 390 (6th Cir. 2018). · cites it 11× “Tennessee's felony drug statute makes it illegal for a defendant to knowingly: 1) manufacture a controlled substance, 2) deliver a controlled substance, 3) sell a controlled substance, or 4) possess a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell the…”
State v. Dycus, 456 S.W.3d 918 (Tenn. 2014). · cites it 10× “3d at 168 (“[T]he only way to punish an offender under the Drug-Free School Zone Act is to first determine his sentence under Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417.”) Conversely, as stated previously herein, the decision of a trial court to grant judicial diversion does not constitute a…”
State v. Lindsey, 208 S.W.3d 432 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006). · cites it 12× “5) grams or more of a substance containing Cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, within one thousand feet (1000’) of the real property comprising a public secondary school, to wit: New Horizons Alternative School, contrary to T.C.A. § 39-17-417 and T.C.A. § 39-17-432, a…”
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Lewis Tuttle, 515 S.W.3d 282 (Tenn. 2017). · cites it 5× “In the indictment at issue here, the State alleged that the defendant’s property was subject to forfeiture because it was directly or indirectly acquired by a violation of either Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-417, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell…”
State v. Thornton, 10 S.W.3d 229 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). · cites it 9× “The defendant alleges that the indictment, which divided the sale and delivery offense contained in Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417 into separate charges, created a psychological effect on the jury by suggesting that he had engaged in more criminal activity than the state could prove.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(1) — 1 case
Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (j)(5) (Supp.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(A)(3) — 1 case
Shields v. Sheriff Bonner (W.D. Tenn. 2025).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(C)(2) — 1 case
Cyril v. Fraser (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a) — 99 cases
State v. Waller, 118 S.W.3d 368 (Tenn. 2003).
State v. Carter, 121 S.W.3d 579 (Tenn. 2003).
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Lewis Tuttle, 515 S.W.3d 282 (Tenn. 2017). “In the indictment at issue here, the State alleged that the defendant’s property was subject to forfeiture because it was directly or indirectly acquired by a violation of either Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-417, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell…”
State v. Patton, 898 S.W.2d 732 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).
State v. Thornton, 10 S.W.3d 229 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “The defendant alleges that the indictment, which divided the sale and delivery offense contained in Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417 into separate charges, created a psychological effect on the jury by suggesting that he had engaged in more criminal activity than the state could prove.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(1) — 12 cases
State v. Carter, 160 S.W.3d 526 (Tenn. 2005).
State v. Lindsey, 208 S.W.3d 432 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006). “5) grams or more of a substance containing Cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, within one thousand feet (1000’) of the real property comprising a public secondary school, to wit: New Horizons Alternative School, contrary to T.C.A. § 39-17-417 and T.C.A. § 39-17-432, a…”
State v. Patterson, 966 S.W.2d 435 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).
State v. Blair, 145 S.W.3d 633 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004).
State of Tennessee v. Edward Poe (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(1)(C)(2) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Randy G. McDaniel (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(2) — 56 cases
United States v. Angelo Goldston, 906 F.3d 390 (6th Cir. 2018). “Tennessee's felony drug statute makes it illegal for a defendant to knowingly: 1) manufacture a controlled substance, 2) deliver a controlled substance, 3) sell a controlled substance, or 4) possess a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell the…”
State v. Wilson, 31 S.W.3d 189 (Tenn. 2000). “On appeal, Wilson contended, inter aha, that the indictments were insufficient because they did not allege the essential culpable mental state, “knowingly,” as required by Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417 and that the trial court erred because Wilson was incompetent to plead guilty.”
State v. Lindsey, 208 S.W.3d 432 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006). “5) grams or more of a substance containing Cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, within one thousand feet (1000’) of the real property comprising a public secondary school, to wit: New Horizons Alternative School, contrary to T.C.A. § 39-17-417 and T.C.A. § 39-17-432, a…”
State v. Smith, 996 S.W.2d 845 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
State of Tennessee v. Bruce Elliot, 366 S.W.3d 139 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(2)(4) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Maurice Shaw (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(3) — 63 cases
State v. Holston, 94 S.W.3d 507 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002).
State v. Copeland, 983 S.W.2d 703 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998).
State v. Biggs, 211 S.W.3d 744 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(4) — 163 cases
State v. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d 514 (Tenn. 2007). “In particular, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-432(b) provides as follows: A violation of § 39-17-417, or a conspiracy to violate such section, that occurs on the grounds or facilities of any school or within one thousand feet (1,000') of the real property that comprises…”
State v. Nelson, 275 S.W.3d 851 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008).
Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (j)(5) (Supp.”
State v. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d 540 (Tenn. 1999). “1994) states in pertinent part: "A violation of [ Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (a)] with respect to: Cocaine is a Class B felony if the amount involved is point five (.”
State v. Ostein, 293 S.W.3d 519 (Tenn. 2009).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(4)(1991) — 1 case
State v. Blackmon, 984 S.W.2d 589 (Tenn. 1998).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(4)(c)(1) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Roy A. Jamison Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(4)(c)(2) — 1 case
State v. Hilliard, 906 S.W.2d 466 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(4)(j)(5) — 1 case
State v. Blackmon, 78 S.W.3d 322 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(b) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(a)(l) — 1 case
State v. Santiago, 914 S.W.2d 116 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b) — 97 cases
Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (j)(5) (Supp.”
State v. Bonestel, 871 S.W.2d 163 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
State v. Parker, 932 S.W.2d 945 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
State v. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d 514 (Tenn. 2007). “In particular, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-432(b) provides as follows: A violation of § 39-17-417, or a conspiracy to violate such section, that occurs on the grounds or facilities of any school or within one thousand feet (1,000') of the real property that comprises…”
Calvin Eugene BRYANT v. STATE of Tennessee, 460 S.W.3d 513 (Tenn. 2015).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b)(1) — 4 cases
State of Tennessee v. Tammy Tuttle (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018).
State of Tennessee v. Frederic A. Crosby (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b)(1)(2020) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b)(2)(A) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Shannon Jones (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b)(4) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b)(Z) — 1 case
State v. Waller, 118 S.W.3d 368 (Tenn. 2003).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(b)(l) — 1 case
State v. Samuel, 243 S.W.3d 592 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(c) — 17 cases
Travis Armstrong v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Seth Powell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2024).
Glenn Larry Brown v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025).
Mann v. Moore Cnty., Tennessee (E.D. Tenn. 2025).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(c)(1) — 76 cases
State v. Ross, 49 S.W.3d 833 (Tenn. 2001). “NOTES [1] To put this amount in perspective, the quantity of cocaine found by officers from room 132 was more than 100 times the minimum amount needed to charge the defendant with a Class B felony.”
State v. Marshall, 870 S.W.2d 532 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (j)(5) (Supp.”
Carter v. State, 102 S.W.3d 113 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002).
United States v. Frankie Frazier, 426 F. App'x 401 (6th Cir. 2011).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(c)(1)(2) — 1 case
State v. Timothy Tyrone Sanders (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(c)(2) — 10 cases
State v. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d 540 (Tenn. 1999). “1994) states in pertinent part: "A violation of [ Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (a)] with respect to: Cocaine is a Class B felony if the amount involved is point five (.”
State v. Wilson, 31 S.W.3d 189 (Tenn. 2000). “On appeal, Wilson contended, inter aha, that the indictments were insufficient because they did not allege the essential culpable mental state, “knowingly,” as required by Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417 and that the trial court erred because Wilson was incompetent to plead guilty.”
State v. Turner, 41 S.W.3d 663 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
State v. Hilliard, 906 S.W.2d 466 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(c)(2)(A) — 24 cases
State of Tennessee v. Rico Cortez Bevins (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Mario Cogshell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(c)(l) — 8 cases
State v. Keel, 882 S.W.2d 410 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994).
State v. Pettus, 986 S.W.2d 540 (Tenn. 1999). “1994) states in pertinent part: "A violation of [ Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (a)] with respect to: Cocaine is a Class B felony if the amount involved is point five (.”
State v. Hilliard, 906 S.W.2d 466 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
State v. Marshall, 870 S.W.2d 532 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1993).
State v. Nelson, 275 S.W.3d 851 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(d) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(d)(1) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Alfred R. Mason (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020).
State of Tennessee v. Robert Pruitt (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(e)(2) — 2 cases
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(e)(l) — 1 case
State v. Smith, 996 S.W.2d 845 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(f) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(g) — 2 cases
State v. Warner Powell & Charlie Stokes (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
State of Tennessee v. Shawn Dontay Beard (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(g)(1) — 17 cases
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(g)(l) — 1 case
State v. Dycus, 456 S.W.3d 918 (Tenn. 2014). “3d at 168 (“[T]he only way to punish an offender under the Drug-Free School Zone Act is to first determine his sentence under Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-17-417.”) Conversely, as stated previously herein, the decision of a trial court to grant judicial diversion does not constitute a…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(i) — 7 cases
State v. Parker, 932 S.W.2d 945 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Lewis Tuttle, 515 S.W.3d 282 (Tenn. 2017). “In the indictment at issue here, the State alleged that the defendant’s property was subject to forfeiture because it was directly or indirectly acquired by a violation of either Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-417, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell…”
State v. Johnson, 342 S.W.3d 520 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009).
State v. Scarlett Rose Bender (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(i)(10) — 3 cases
State v. Magness, 165 S.W.3d 300 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004).
State of Tennessee v. Keusi Yamba Donald (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(i)(13) — 4 cases
State v. Vasques, 221 S.W.3d 514 (Tenn. 2007). “In particular, Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-432(b) provides as follows: A violation of § 39-17-417, or a conspiracy to violate such section, that occurs on the grounds or facilities of any school or within one thousand feet (1,000') of the real property that comprises…”
State v. Santiago, 914 S.W.2d 116 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Keeton (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(i)(3) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(i)(5) — 9 cases
State of Tennessee v. Garrick Graham (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020).
Levi Battle, III v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(j) — 5 cases
State v. Moore, 309 S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009).
State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Kristopher King & Kasey Lynn King, 437 S.W.3d 856 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
State of Tennessee v. Clarence W. Carter (Tenn. Crim. App. 2002).
State v. Frank Michael Vukelich (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(j)(10) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(j)(13) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Kristopher King & Kasey Lynn King, 437 S.W.3d 856 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Keeton (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(j)(13)(A) — 2 cases
Agee v. State, 111 S.W.3d 571 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2003).
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Keeton (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(j)(5) — 10 cases
Steven Waters v. Reagan Farr, Comm'r of Revenue for the State of Tennessee, 291 S.W.3d 873 (Tenn. 2009). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 (j)(5) (Supp.”
State of Tennessee v. Bobby Lee Robinson, 400 S.W.3d 529 (Tenn. 2013).
State of Tennessee v. Bruce Elliot, 366 S.W.3d 139 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417(k) — 4 cases
State v. Smith, 48 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). “(4) The Drug-Free School Zone Act enhances penalties for violations of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417 which occur, as in the appellant’s case, beyond regular school hours of operation.”
State of Tennessee v. Shawn Dontay Beard (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
State of Tennessee v. Thomas D. Smith (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.