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Manufacturing a Controlled Substance – California Health and Safety Code 11379.6 HS

manufacture a controlled substance - California Health and Safety Code 11379.6
Health and Safety Code 11379.6 makes it a crime for someone to manufacture certain controlled substances.

The Crime of Drug Manufacturing in California - HS 11379.6

The felony drug crime of manufacturing a controlled substance is described under California Health and Safety Code 11379.6.

This statute makes it a crime for anyone who manufactures, converts, produces, processes, or prepares, either directly or indirectly, by a chemical extraction or using chemical synthesis, any controlled substance.

In other words, HS 11379.6 prohibits illegally manufacturing drugs, narcotics or controlled substances.

  It also prohibits anyone to engage, or offer to engage, in any type of activity to the process of manufacturing an illegal substance.

It should be noted that the most common examples of drug manufacturing charges occur in a situation where someone is operating a methamphetamine lab, or when they mix chemicals to make narcotics.

It should also be noted that if you just “knowingly” participate in any part of the drug processing, you could be charged criminally under this statute.

Under HS 11379.6, a “controlled substance” includes a wide variety of substances, such as opiates, stimulants, and narcotics that are listed in Schedule II, III, IV and V of the Controlled Substance Act.

If you are convicted of the drug crime of manufacturing controlled substances under Health and Safety Code 11379.6, it's a felony crime that can result in up to seven years in jail, and a large fine.

The penalties will increase if you are convicted of manufacturing large quantities of a substance containing PCP or methamphetamines, or cause another person to sustain a great bodily injury or death.

To give readers a better understanding of drug manufacturing charges, our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys are providing an overview below.

Definition of HS 11379.6 Drug Manufacturing

California Health and Safety Code 11379.6 defines manufacturing a controlled substance as follows:

  • (a) Anyone who manufactures, compounds, converts, produces, derives, processes, or prepares, either directly or indirectly by chemical extraction or independently by means of chemical synthesis, any controlled substance will be punished by imprisonment of three, five, or seven years, and fine up to $50,000.

Common controlled substances that are manufactured include methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, PCP, and LSD.

It should be noted the chemical extraction process can be done indirectly or directly.

The prosecutor doesn't have to prove you were able to actually complete the manufacture or production of a controlled substance, but only that you were involved in starting to produce the final illegal product. However, they must prove you knowingly contributed to the process.

You could also be convicted for just creating a “precursor” element used in later stages for the final controlled substance product.

This means you could be convicted for combing legal elements as long as you know they can aid in the creation of an illegal substance. Finally, you don't have to know exactly what substance you were using, only that it was illegal.

What Does the Prosecutor Have to Prove?

In order to be convicted of manufacturing controlled substances in violation of California Health and Safety Code 11379.6, the prosecutor has to be able to prove all the elements of the crime listed under CALCRIM 2330 Jury Instructions:

  • You manufactured, converted, produced, processed or prepared a controlled substance, directly or indirectly, by chemical extraction or synthesis, and
  • You knew it was a controlled substance; OR
  • You offered to manufacture a controlled substance, and
  • You intended to do so when the offer was made.

As stated above, it's crucial to note you can still violate California's law prohibiting manufacturing narcotics even if the manufacturing process is not completed. This type drug crime occurs once you knowingly participate in any of the steps to process a drug.

Penalties for HS 11379.6 Drug Manufacturing

California Health and Safety Code 11379.6 manufacturing controlled substances is a felony crime.

If convicted, you are facing 3, 5 or 7 years in a California state prison, and a fine up to $50,000. If convicted of offering to manufacture controlled substances, you are facing up to 5 years in a California state prison.

It should be noted the judge has the discretion to impose probation and county jail time, rather than a state prison.

If a child under 16 years old lived in the structure where the drug manufacturing occurred, it's an “aggravating factor” and you could receive additional time.

There are also other aggravating factors that result in a longer sentence. These include manufacturing large quantities of specific drugs, causing death or injury, and having certain prior drug-related convictions.

Related California Offenses for HS 11379.6 Drug Manufacturing

  • Health and Safety Code 11350 - Possession of a Controlled Substance,
  • Health and Safety Code 11351 - Possession Controlled Substance for Sale,
  • Health and Safety Code 11352 – Transport for Sale a Controlled Substance,
  • Health and Safety Code 11357 - Possession of Marijuana,
  • Health and Safety Code 11358 – Marijuana Cultivation,
  • Health and Safety Code 11359 - Possession of Marijuana for Sale,
  • Health and Safety Code 11360 – Marijuana Transportation,
  • Health and Safety Code 11364 - Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,
  • Health and Safety Code 11377 - Possession of Methamphetamine,
  • Health and Safety Code 11364 - Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,
  • Health and Safety Code 11370.9 – Money Laundering from Drug Proceeds.

Fighting HS 11379.6 Drug Manufacturing Charges

If you have been accused of Health and Safety Code 11379.6 manufacturing controlled substances, our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers can use a range of strategies in an effort to obtain the best possible outcome on the case. The most common defenses include:

You didn't reach the stage to manufacture

We might be able to make an argument that you didn't actually reach the stage to manufacture, compound, convert, produce, or process any controlled substance. For example, perhaps you were in the early stages of preparing the manufacturing process, but don't have actual chemical materials, then you might be able to avoid a conviction.

Lack of knowledge defense

In limited cases, we may be able to argue you didn't know the substances were a controlled substance. This could occur in a situation where you were told from someone else to manufacture substances, but were not aware of what exactly the substance was.

Drug Diversion

Drug diversion is an alternative sentencing option that will allow a nonviolent drug offender to receive drug treatment, rather than jail time.

In California, drug diversion programs include Proposition 36, deferred entry of judgement under Penal Code 1000, and California drug court.

If you have been accused of drug manufacturing in violation of California Health and Safety Code 11379.6, contact our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers to review the case and options.

Eisner Gorin LLP is a top-rated criminal defense law firm with a record of success in all types of drug related crimes.

Our LA office is located at 1875 Century Park E #705, Los Angeles, CA 90067. Our San Fernando Valley office is located at 14401 Sylvan St #112 Van Nuys, CA 91401.

Contact us for a consultation at (310) 328-3776.

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