California has long allowed for the use of medicinal marijuana, but recreational marijuana has also been permitted in recent years. This isn’t exclusive to California. It has happened in numerous states and is likely to eventually happen almost everywhere. Public perception has shifted, and the laws governing marijuana have lessened dramatically.
This has often led to people viewing it more like alcohol. They know that you can’t do things like get high and drive, but they assume that it’s not a criminal offense to have marijuana. Is there any way that you could still go to jail for it in 2022 and beyond?
Only specific uses of cannabis are allowed
Marijuana may be legal, but there are still limits to this legality. For instance, it’s legal to have up to an ounce, but having more could still land you in legal trouble. If you have more than 28.5 grams, that’s a misdemeanor. It could result in hundreds of dollars in fines and up to six months in jail.
It’s also illegal to distribute marijuana. No matter how much you have, if the police believe that your goal was distribution, you can still face charges. Marijuana has to be sold out of licensed dispensaries, so selling it on the secondary market is still illegal. This is even true if you went to the dispensary and bought the products legally. You can’t resell them.
Changing laws and changing times
You can see that this isn’t quite as simple as you may have assumed, thanks to the changing laws over time. You always need to make sure you know what the law says and what options you have if you face arrest.