In Pennsylvania, if you are convicted of Possession with the Intent to Deliver (PWID) Marijuana, you could frace a mandatory minimum. The mandatories are as follows:
2 lbs. to < 10 lbs. or 10 to < 21 live plants: 1st conviction 1 year, subsequent – 2 years
10 lbs. to < 50 lbs. or 21 to 51 live plants: 1st conviction 3 years, subsequent – 4 years
50 lbs. or more or 51 live plants or more: 1st conviction 5 years subsequent – 5 years
The key to the sentencing issue above is that the defendant must be convicted of PWID. If you are not convcted of PWID, the mandatories do not apply and you are sentenced based on the sentencing guidelines. There are four basic ways to be convicted of PWID for any drug. First, selling the drugs. Second, conspiring with other to sell drugs. Third, possessing a quantity too great to reasonably be able to use the drugs just for yourself. Fourth, sharing the drugs in a social setting.
Also, there are exceptions to the mandatory rules where you can file a motion and argue that even though you possessed some of the drugs for delivery, you possessed some for personal use and therefore the mandatory should not apply.
