Which Health and Safety Code section addresses possession of marijuana?

• A. HS 11357
• B. HS 11350
• C. HS 11377
• D. HS 11550

Answer: (A)

Possession of marijuana is addressed by Health and Safety Code section 11357. This statute defines the offense of possessing usable marijuana and is the basic marijuana possession provision, distinguishing it from sections that deal with possession for sale or with other drugs. The other listed sections cover different substances or different offenses (for example, possession or sale of other controlled substances, or use of controlled substances), so they don’t apply to the simple possession of marijuana. Keep in mind that changes from Prop 64 affected penalties and allowances for adults, but 11357 remains the marijuana possession statute.