Home / Charges / § 18.2-250 — Drug Possession

§ 18.2-250 — Drug Possession

Court outcome data from 23,484 cases across 123 jurisdictions · 2025

Source. Virginia District + Circuit Court Information Systems, 2025 Methodology Report a correction Last refreshed May 2, 2026

This page provides statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. For the current text of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Virginia attorney.

According to 23,484 public court records from 2025, § 18.2-250 cases across 123 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 37.0% and an average conviction rate of 62.6%.

About This Statute

Section 18.2-250 addresses unauthorized possession of controlled substances in Virginia. Simple possession of a Schedule I or II substance is a Class 5 felony, while Schedule III-VI possession is a misdemeanor. Virginia decriminalized simple marijuana possession in 2021. For the current statutory text, penalties, and legal elements, consult the Virginia Legislative Information System or a licensed Virginia attorney.

Court Outcome Statistics

Our analysis of cases categorized under this statute area across Virginia courts (2025) shows:

23,484
Total Cases
37.0%
Avg Dismissal Rate
62.6%
Avg Conviction Rate

Top Jurisdictions

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Virginia Beach 1,392 25.0% 75.0% 3.5 months
Henrico County 1,345 35.0% 65.0% 3.1 months
Prince William County 1,173 41.7% 58.3% 5.0 months
Fairfax County 1,141 69.6% 30.4% 6.0 months
Chesterfield County 1,048 38.7% 61.3% 4.4 months
Chesapeake 874 50.3% 49.7% 2.9 months
Newport News 724 55.9% 44.1% 4.2 months
Montgomery County 645 29.2% 70.8% 3.6 months
Bristol 549 14.4% 85.6% 3.0 months
Tazewell County 536 48.5% 51.5% 4.8 months
Roanoke City 466 31.8% 68.2% 1.2 months
Stafford County 459 35.5% 64.5% 3.5 months
Franklin County 433 36.0% 64.0% 2.8 months
Lynchburg 394 29.5% 70.5% 3.8 months
Hampton 387 30.2% 69.8% 3.8 months

Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com

Explore Full Data

Drug Possession — All Jurisdictions
23,484 cases · 37.0% dismissed
Drug Possession Guide
What the court data shows →

Common Questions

Based on 23,484 cases from 2025, charges under § 18.2-250 have an average dismissal rate of 37.0% and a conviction rate of 62.6% across 123 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
23,484 cases under § 18.2-250 were filed across 123 Virginia jurisdictions in 2025. For information about the current text and penalties of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia.

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