Marijuana

California was one of the first states to establish a medical marijuana program, known as the Compassionate Use Act. It was approved by 55% majority and allowed people with cancer, AIDS and other chronic illnesses to grow and/or obtain marijuana for medical purposes when recommended by a doctor. There has been vague wording in this act and many critics of this program argue that marijuana has become quasi-legal, meaning “anyone can obtain a recommendation for medical marijuana at any time for practically any ailment”.

Because of the law, 200,000 patients in the state now have safe and affordable access to medical marijuana to relieve pain and treat medical conditions without having to risk arrest or buy the drug off the black market. There are still restrictions when it comes to possession. Simple possession of no more than 28.5 grams is a non-criminal infraction and is punishable by a $100 fine alone. If you have more than one ounce (28.5 grams), or possess any amount of concentrated cannabis or having it on school grounds, it is considered a more serious crime.

Many other states have enacted medical marijuana laws of their own. That includes Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Keep in mind it is still considered illegal on the federal level so if you get in any trouble with marijuana involvement, contact an experienced attorney.

Under the Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is a Schedule 1 hallucinogenic drug. This means that the government believes it has a high potential for abuse and is not accepted medically. The CSA takes precedence over the laws of California which means technically, if you sell, transport or give marijuana, you violate federal as well as California law. This is true even if you qualify as a medical user so make sure you understand the law very well and talk to an experienced California attorney.

There’s no substitute for a strong criminal attorney,
call Wing & Parisi at (916) 441-4888.

Contact us online or call at (916) 441-4888 for a free and confidential initial consultation, available in Spanish. We appear in state and federal courts in the Sacramento and Davis communities as well as throughout Placer and San Joaquin counties.

The Law Office of Wing & Parisi serves clients in the Sacramento and Davis communities as well as throughout Placer County and San Joaquin County. Hablamos espanol.