SentenceCalc

Federal Marijuana Sentence Calculator

Marijuana is scored by weight, and growing operations by plant count: each plant counts as 100 grams unless the actual usable weight is greater. For the statutory penalties, plants are counted separately: under 50 kilograms (about 110 pounds) and fewer than 50 plants, the maximum is 5 years; 100 kilograms or 100 plants triggers the 5-year minimum, and 1,000 kilograms or 1,000 plants triggers 10 years. To use the calculator for a grow, enter 100 grams per plant; it applies the statutory minimums and maximums by weight only, so for 50 or more plants use the plant-count figures above. In federal court, 100 kg triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum and 1,000 kg triggers 10 years.

Verified Checked against the manual text in at least five AI-assisted review rounds. Not yet reviewed by an attorney. Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025Updated October 4, 2026

5-year minimum100 kg21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)(B)
10-year minimum1,000 kg21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)(A)
100 lb (45.36 kg), no record12–18 monthsLevel 18, early plea

Calculate a marijuana case

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Amounts and sentences

AmountBase levelNo criminal history points, early pleaWith the safety valve
20 lb (9.07 kg)120–6 monthsNo minimum
100 lb (45.36 kg)1812–18 monthsNo minimum
500 lb (226.8 kg)2460 months
5-year minimum		24–30 months

Assumes no criminal history points, no weapon, no violence, no leadership role, an early guilty plea and the 2-level zero-point reduction.

The full quantity table

Amount (total mixture)Base levelNo criminal history points, early pleaMandatory minimum
Less than 1 kg60–6 months
1 kg to 2.5 kg80–6 months
2.5 kg to 5 kg100–6 months
5 kg to 10 kg120–6 months
10 kg to 20 kg146–12 months
20 kg to 40 kg168–14 months
40 kg to 60 kg1812–18 months
60 kg to 80 kg2018–24 months
80 kg to 100 kg2224–30 months
100 kg to 400 kg2460 months5 years
400 kg to 700 kg2660 months5 years
700 kg to 1,000 kg2860 months5 years
1,000 kg to 3,000 kg30120 months10 years
3,000 kg to 10,000 kg32120 months10 years
10,000 kg to 30,000 kg34120 months10 years
30,000 kg to 90,000 kg36120–135 months10 years
90,000 kg or more38135–168 months10 years

“No criminal history points, early plea” assumes zero criminal history points, no weapon, no violence and no leadership role, so the plea reduction and the 2-level zero-point reduction both apply. The mandatory minimum column assumes no prior serious drug felony or serious violent felony; the safety valve can remove it.

What to know

  • Marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law regardless of state legalization.

Frequently asked questions

What amount of marijuana triggers a federal mandatory minimum?

100 kg of marijuana triggers a 5-year mandatory minimum, and 1,000 kg triggers 10 years (21 U.S.C. §841(b)(1)), for someone without a prior serious drug felony or serious violent felony.

What is the guideline sentence for 100 lb (45.36 kg) of marijuana?

The Drug Quantity Table puts 100 lb (45.36 kg) at level 18. For someone with no criminal history points who pleads guilty, with no weapon, violence or leadership role, the guideline sentence is 12–18 months.

Does the weight include the packaging or cutting agents?

Packaging, no. Cutting agents, yes: the weight is the entire mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of the drug, except for drugs the table measures by purity.