Mid‑Michigan Police Academy 106th Class Legal Track Practice Test 2025 - Free Police Academy Practice Questions and Study Guide

For an individual to be guilty of possession of a controlled substance, it is essential that the individual knows that the substance they possess is classified as controlled. This element of knowledge is significant because it establishes the individual's awareness of the illegal nature of the substance, which is a critical factor in determining criminal liability.

Without this knowledge, a person may possess a substance inadvertently, or under circumstances that do not constitute a crime. For instance, if someone unknowingly receives a controlled substance, they would not meet the legal requirements for possession because they lacked the requisite knowledge about the substance's status.

The other options do not capture the essential requirement for possession as they focus on ownership, legal purchase, or medical use, which are not definitive criteria for establishing guilt in relation to controlled substances. Ownership alone does not imply guilt, as possession can occur without ownership. Similarly, legal purchase or medical use does not apply to the context of unlawfully possessing a controlled substance.