{"data":{"id":"us-ny/n.y.-penal-law-220.03","jurisdiction":"us-ny","citation":"N.Y. Penal Law § 220.03","heading":"Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree","body":"§ 220.03 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh\n           degree.\n  A person is guilty of criminal possession of a controlled substance in\nthe seventh degree when he or she knowingly and unlawfully possesses a\ncontrolled substance; provided, however, that it shall not be a\nviolation of this section when a person possesses a residual amount of a\ncontrolled substance and that residual amount is in or on a hypodermic\nsyringe or hypodermic needle; nor shall it be a violation of this\nsection when a person's unlawful possession of a controlled substance is\ndiscovered as a result of seeking immediate health care as defined in\nparagraph (b) of subdivision three of section 220.78 of this article,\nfor either another person or him or herself because such person is\nexperiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other life threatening\nmedical emergency as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of\nsection 220.78 of this article.\n  Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree is\na class A misdemeanor.","path":["Penal Law","Part 3. Specific Offenses","Title M. Offenses Against Public Health and Morals","Article 220. Controlled Substances Offenses"],"source_url":"https://legislation.nysenate.gov/api/3/laws/PEN/220.03","current_through":"2026-09-11","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:32:45Z","sha256":"8a58f537a0a454a790fc0f97bed808c014cf9807c2efef5cd294b48d28dc0ae1","source_id":"us-ny","stale":false,"prev":"us-ny/n.y.-penal-law-220.00","next":"us-ny/n.y.-penal-law-220.06"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}