Federal · Title 21 — Food and Drugs

21 U.S.C. § 856: Maintaining drug-involved premises

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A person commits a felony by knowingly opening, leasing, renting, using, or maintaining any place for manufacturing, distributing, or using controlled substances, or by managing/controlling such a place with knowledge it will be used for those purposes.

Read the full statutory text
knowingly open, lease, rent, use, or maintain any place, whether permanently or temporarily, for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance; manage or control any place, whether permanently or temporarily, either as an owner, lessee, agent, employee, occupant, or mortgagee, and knowingly and intentionally rent, lease, profit from, or make available for use, with or without compensation, the place for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance. Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $500,000, or both, or a fine of $2,000,000 for a person other than an individual. A violation of subsection (a) shall be considered an offense against property for purposes of section 3663A(c)(1)(A)(ii) of title 18 . $250,000; or 2 times the gross receipts, either known or estimated, that were derived from each violation that is attributable to the person. If a civil penalty is calculated under paragraph (1)(B), and there is more than 1 defendant, the court may apportion the penalty between multiple violators, but each violator shall be jointly and severally liable for the civil penalty under this subsection. Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be subject to declaratory and injunctive remedies as set forth in section 843(f) of this title .

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.