Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree · as in force on May 31, 2026
§ 220.03 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh
degree.
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree when he or she knowingly and unlawfully possesses a controlled substance; provided, however, that it shall not be a violation of this section when a person possesses a residual amount of a controlled substance and that residual amount is in or on a hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle; nor shall it be a violation of this section when a person's unlawful possession of a controlled substance is discovered as a result of seeking immediate health care as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision three of section 220.78 of this article, for either another person or him or herself because such person is experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other life threatening medical emergency as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of section 220.78 of this article.
Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree is a class A misdemeanor.
Knowingly and unlawfully possessing a controlled substance is seventh-degree possession, a class A misdemeanor. It does not cover residue in or on a hypodermic syringe or needle, or possession discovered because someone sought immediate health care for an overdose or other life-threatening emergency under § 220.78. ★
Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.
This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.