# N.Y. PEN Law § 220.03: Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree

> New York · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.03

## Section

- **Citation:** N.Y. PEN Law § 220.03
- **Heading:** Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree
- **Jurisdiction:** New York
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** New York Code / Act PEN / Part 3 / Title M / Article 220 / Section 220.03

## Text

§ 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.\n

## Nearby sections

- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.00 Controlled substances; definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.00.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.03 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.03.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.06 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.06.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.09 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.09.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.16 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.16.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.18 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.18.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.21 Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.21.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.25 Criminal possession of a controlled substance; presumption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.25.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.28 Use of a child to commit a controlled substance offense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.28.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.31 Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.31.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.34 Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.34.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.39 Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.39.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.41 Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.41.md)
- [N.Y. PEN Law § 220.43 Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the first degree](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.43.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_APEN_P3_TM_A220_S220.03. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.