Opinion ID: 577187
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the statute and the federal sentencing guidelines

Text: 15 Defendants were convicted and sentenced pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841. 6 In that statute, Congress outlined a sentencing scheme in which an individual's sentence would increase in proportion to the number of plants seized or in proportion to the actual weight of dried marijuana involved in the conviction. In offenses involving the seizure of 50 or more marijuana plants, Congress provided a plant/weight equivalency scheme in which one plant would be equated with 1000 grams of marijuana. In instances involving fewer than 50 plants, the actual weight of marijuana attributable to the seized plant would be used when calculating the defendant's sentence. 16 In section 841(b), Congress established sentencing ranges based on the actual quantity of dry marijuana seized or the equivalent number of plants. If the conviction involves 1000 kilograms or more of marijuana, or 1000 or more marijuana plants, the defendant will receive a sentence of no less than ten years and no greater than life imprisonment. An offense involving 100 or more kilograms of marijuana or 100 or more plants requires a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of forty years imprisonment. A defendant convicted of an offense involving 50 or more kilograms of marijuana or 50 or more plants will be subject to a maximum sentence of twenty years. An offense involving fewer than 50 kilograms of marijuana or fewer than 50 plants warrants a sentence of not more than five years. 17 The Federal Sentencing Guidelines echo the Congressional equivalency scheme contained in section 841(b): 18 In the case of an offense involving marihuana plants, if the offense involved (A) 50 or more marihuana plants, treat each plant as equivalent to 1 KG of marihuana; (B) fewer than 50 marihuana plants, treat each plant as equivalent to 100 G of marihuana. Provided, however, that if the actual weight of the marihuana is greater, use the actual weight of the marihuana. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, p. 82 (Nov. 1991). 19 Although the statute indicates that sentencing for offenders convicted of possessing fewer than 50 plants is to be based on the actual weight, the Guidelines apply a 100 gram per se equivalency unless the actual weight is higher. The Commission justifies this ratio by the fact that the average yield from a mature marihuana plant equals 100 grams of marihuana. U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, p. 89 (Nov. 1991) (commentary following Guideline).