High & Dry: When Medicinal Marijuana Lands You in Jail

In Canada, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Finland, UK, Belgium, Israel, medical marijuana is legal. Two states in the United States of America, Washington and Colorado, have made pot completely legal (with some restrictions) and eighteen states plus the District of Columbia have decriminalized the usage of pot and made medical marijuana legal. If a citizen were to buy legal marijuana in Canada or other country and travel to the United States/ country that has not decriminalized pot, they run the chance of getting arrested. Despite the cries of the public in the USA and individual states providing more relaxed laws on the criminal nature of marijuana, the federal government classifies pot as a schedule 1 drug, the same class as heroin and LSD. Unfortunately, since many doctors recommend the medicinal qualities of marijuana to patients, especially those that may be chronically ill, those in possession of any weight of pot must be wary of where they take it.

Landing in jail for marijuana can fall under the illegal possession or sale of the substance. A survey of court records, case reports, and news stories by NORML shows close to 500 years of combined jail time among defendants charged by the Department of Justice for medical marijuana related offenses in states that allow the use of pot medicinally. But not landing in jail is mostly a matter of knowing the correct law differences between federal and state jurisdictions. For example, just because Washington and Colorado have decriminalized pot does not mean that the whole state is a “safe zone” so to speak. Any federal properties such as parks and forests, buildings, military installations, and courthouses are strictly prohibited from having any marijuana on the premises. If a federal trooper were to pull over an individual with pot in their car, then that officer has the power to arrest them because federal law is not superseded by state law. Know about zoning ordinances if growing plants and the maximum allowed number of plants allowed to be possessed by a single person. If the person in possession of marijuana has 28.5 grams or more, then there is a greater chance for an arrest on the intent to sell.

If you find yourself in jail for any possession of marijuana, it may be important to contact a bondsman. If you are looking for San Diego bail bonds, check out ChiefBail.com. A bond agent will work with someone close to the individual arrested to get them released from jail until the future court date. Most agents charge 10% of the posted bail, which is non-refundable. The bail bonding agency then becomes responsible for the defendant on the court date. If the defendant does not show up, then the agency will send out a bounty hunter to track down the individual. A bond ensures that 100% of the bail amount will be paid, but certain courts will accept only 10% down payment or the full bond for release of a suspect. Agencies have a scope of offenses that they are able to cover with marijuana related offenses normally being one of them. Law offenses regarding medicinal marijuana are just the same as an individual with marijuana for recreational use. After the sentencing of an individual, lawyers and bond agents will work with them to have all fees paid off and any other ramifications given by the court, such as community service, completed.