California has long been on the forefront of marijuana laws. It allowed the use of medical marijuana before many other states, and it already allows the use of recreational marijuana. Cannabis is a popular and commonly used substance in California, which sometimes leads people to believe that they can no longer get arrested for marijuana-related violations.
But this is not true. The laws regarding marijuana have changed so that use is legal, but there are still many ways someone could be arrested for breaking marijuana laws. Let’s look at a few examples of how this could happen.
Unauthorized sales
First and foremost, businesses that sell marijuana need to adhere to proper regulations and be monitored by the state. This is done to ensure that they operate safely and legally. If someone sells products under the table or without a license, it is illegal.
Use under 21
Additionally, marijuana is still regulated to keep it away from children and adolescents. As with alcohol, people have to be 21 years old to buy and use these products. Using them while under age could still result in an arrest.
Leaving the state
Finally, one issue that many tourists run into is that they can legally purchase marijuana in California, but then they try to leave the state and take it home with them. Crossing state lines with marijuana products is federally illegal. Additionally, if a tourist’s home state prohibits the use of marijuana, having and using those products is still going to be illegal for them at home, even if they legally purchased them in California.
These are just a few examples of how people could accidentally run afoul of the law. They must understand their legal defense options if they find themselves in this position.