Can Medical Marijuana Impact My Drug-Related Charges?
Nearly 900,000 Floridians use medical marijuana regularly. Florida legalized medical marijuana almost a decade ago, and people have been taking advantage of it ever since. But did you know that there is a slight chance you could face medical marijuana charges for using it?
To be clear, you shouldn’t encounter any legal issues when you buy and use medical marijuana properly. You may, however, face drug possession penalties in the Sunshine State if you don’t follow the rules and regulations put in place to police the purchase and consumption of medical marijuana. This includes carrying a medical marijuana card and buying medical marijuana from a facility that practices legal dispensary compliance.
Learn more about how medical marijuana can potentially lead to drug-related charges below.
When You Might Face Medical Marijuana Charges
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about facing medical marijuana charges. As long as you have a valid medical marijuana card and use it to buy medical marijuana to treat any number of health conditions, you should steer clear of encountering trouble with the law.
There are, however, several instances in which you might face medical marijuana charges. Here is when this might happen:
- You ignore Florida’s public usage restrictions on medical marijuana and use high-THC products in public rather than at home.
- You buy medical marijuana illegally from somewhere other than a legal dispensary.
- You carry medical marijuana around in an unlabeled bottle, bag, or other container.
You may also find yourself on the wrong side of the law if you’re ever caught growing marijuana. Despite having a medical marijuana card, you are not allowed to do this.
Cultivation prohibition is taken seriously in Florida since the state still considers marijuana a Schedule I controlled substance.
How You Can Avoid Medical Marijuana Charges
Do you want to avoid medical marijuana charges in the first place?
You can take steps to minimize the chances of being arrested on drug-related charges for having medical marijuana in your possession. Here are some ways you can do it:
- Keep your medical marijuana card in your wallet or purse to avoid leaving home without it.
- Buy medical marijuana from an approved legal dispensary in Florida.
- Leave medical marijuana products in their original packaging and keep them there at all times.
What You Should Do If You’re Facing Medical Marijuana Charges
If you’re facing medical marijuana charges, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney. They can speak with you about different criminal defense strategies they would advise using to have the charges filed against you reduced or even dismissed completely.
They might also suggest using an affirmative defense to lessen the consequences of marijuana charges. Listen to what this criminal defense lawyer has to say before deciding whether or not you would like to work with them while going through the necessary legal proceedings.
Whatever you do, don’t simply assume that your charges won’t stick because you have a medical marijuana card. This might not end up being the case.
Let Us Help You Fight Back Against the Drug-Related Charges Filed Against You
Are you facing medical marijuana charges in Florida? You might be confused about what you should do to prove that you didn’t break any laws.
Let criminal defense attorney Michael White, P.A., help by providing the legal representation you need and exploring your case from every angle to develop the proper defense.
Give us a call at (954) 707-0850 to schedule a consultation so you can talk to a criminal defense lawyer about your marijuana charges.
