State Marijuana Penalties in Decline Raleigh NC
While a number of states, currently thirteen and counting, have legislated the medicinal legalization of marijuana, the vast majority of states have not and still impose harsh fines and penalties for the unlawful possession of even the most modest sums of marijuana.
Edward Charles Sopp Jr.
919-755-1317
919-755-1317
2601 Oberlin Rd., Suite 100, PO Box 31788
Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC
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State Marijuana Penalties in Decline
While a number of states, currently thirteen and counting, have legislated the medicinal legalization of marijuana, the vast majority of states have not and still impose harsh fines and penalties for the unlawful possession of even the most modest sums of marijuana.
There are substantial differences between the states that permit medicinal use of marijuana and those that don’t. Consider the crime of mere possession of marijuana for personal use of less then one-ounce of marijuana (28.5 grams), which is a misdemeanor under California’s Health and Safety Code section 11357b), yet the penalty provides for neither jail time nor mandatory probation. In fact there is not even a booking requirement. In most cases, the person in possession will receive a ticket and will have the marijuana confiscated by the police. The maximum fine including court assessments comes to about four hundred dollars. In addition, if the person in California can produce a valid medical marijuana ID card, in accordance with state law, it is lawful for a marijuana patient to be in possession of as much as 8 ounces of marijuana and cultivate as many as 6 mature marijuana plants. States like New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan expect to pass their own medicinal marijuana statute by the end of 2009. However there are still states that impose harsh penalties.
Compare California’s approach to what happens if one is in possession of less then an ounce of marijuana to the laws of the state of Indiana. The possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in Indiana can cause you to be both arrested and booked. The conviction of the possession offense is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. For possession of more than one ounce, the penalties range from 6 months to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. There is no medicinal use statute in Indiana, so all possession of marijuana charges are Harsh aimed at punishing and deterring the marijuana user. At least 14 other states boast similar degrees of punishment to that of Indiana. However, it is widely believed that such states are in decline, while pro-medicinal marijuana states are gaining acceptance and momentum every year.
The future of marijuana for medicinal use is gaining in national acceptance. The federal laws and policies of the new administration suggest there will be a much greater level of tolerance and leniency towards users who can prove they obtain medicinal benefit from the use of marijuana.
It is expected that by 2012, the vast majority of states will have enacted their own medical marijuana laws as well as adapting a more relaxed approach to the personal and casual use of small amounts of marijuana.
For information on state and federal marijuana laws and penalties visit GotTrouble.com
There are substantial differences between the states that permit medicinal use of marijuana and those that don’t. Consider the crime of mere possession of marijuana for personal use of less then one-ounce of marijuana (28.5 grams), which is a misdemeanor under California’s Health and Safety Code section 11357b), yet the penalty provides for neither jail time nor mandatory probation. In fact there is not even a booking requirement. In most cases, the person in possession will receive a ticket and will have the marijuana confiscated by the police. The maximum fine including court assessments comes to about four hundred dollars. In addition, if the person in California can produce a valid medical marijuana ID card, in accordance with state law, it is lawful for a marijuana patient to be in possession of as much as 8 ounces of marijuana and cultivate as many as 6 mature marijuana plants. States like New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan expect to pass their own medicinal marijuana statute by the end of 2009. However there are still states that impose harsh penalties.
Compare California’s approach to what happens if one is in possession of less then an ounce of marijuana to the laws of the state of Indiana. The possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in Indiana can cause you to be both arrested and booked. The conviction of the possession offense is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. For possession of more than one ounce, the penalties range from 6 months to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. There is no medicinal use statute in Indiana, so all possession of marijuana charges are Harsh aimed at punishing and deterring the marijuana user. At least 14 other states boast similar degrees of punishment to that of Indiana. However, it is widely believed that such states are in decline, while pro-medicinal marijuana states are gaining acceptance and momentum every year.
The future of marijuana for medicinal use is gaining in national acceptance. The federal laws and policies of the new administration suggest there will be a much greater level of tolerance and leniency towards users who can prove they obtain medicinal benefit from the use of marijuana.
It is expected that by 2012, the vast majority of states will have enacted their own medical marijuana laws as well as adapting a more relaxed approach to the personal and casual use of small amounts of marijuana.
For information on state and federal marijuana laws and penalties visit GotTrouble.com