Home / Code Sections / § 18.2-250 — Drug Possession

§ 18.2-250 — Drug Possession

Court outcome data from 24,616 cases across 123 jurisdictions · 2025

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

Based on 24,616 public court records from 2025, charges under § 18.2-250 were dismissed or dropped in 36.8% of cases and resulted in conviction in 62.8%, across 123 Virginia jurisdictions.

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

Penalties Under § 18.2-250

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 legalized simple possession of up to one ounce of marijuana in 2021.

According to 24,616 public court records from 2025, § 18.2-250 cases across 123 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 36.8% and an average conviction rate of 62.8%.

Court Outcomes Across Virginia

Across 123 Virginia jurisdictions (2025):

24,616
Total Cases
36.8%
Avg Dismissal Rate
62.8%
Avg Conviction Rate

Top Jurisdictions

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Henrico County 1,421 34.3% 65.7% 3.2 months
Virginia Beach 1,417 26.0% 74.0% 3.6 months
Prince William County 1,219 41.7% 58.3% 5.3 months
Fairfax County 1,149 69.7% 30.3% 6.3 months
Chesterfield County 1,099 37.3% 62.7% 4.8 months
Chesapeake 911 48.3% 51.7% 3.7 months
Montgomery County 767 25.5% 74.5% 4.1 months
Newport News 751 55.8% 44.2% 4.8 months
Bristol 588 14.4% 85.6% 3.0 months
Tazewell County 568 51.1% 48.9% 6.1 months
Stafford County 483 36.2% 63.7% 3.8 months
Roanoke City 477 31.9% 68.1% 1.2 months
Franklin County 458 35.4% 64.6% 3.2 months
Lynchburg 408 28.9% 71.1% 4.5 months
Hampton 395 30.4% 69.6% 4.0 months

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

Explore Full Data

Drug Possession — All Jurisdictions
24,616 cases · 36.8% dismissed
Drug Possession Guide
What the court data shows →

Common Questions

Based on 24,616 cases from 2025, charges under § 18.2-250 have an average dismissal rate of 36.8% and a conviction rate of 62.8% across 123 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
24,616 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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