California was a pioneer in marijuana law reform. The state was the first to implement a medical marijuana law in 1996 and one of the first to embrace full marijuana legalization for adult recreational use in 2016.
People who live in California may therefore expect to do what they want with marijuana with very few risks. However, people can still face criminal charges for some of the things they choose to do with marijuana despite the changes in state laws.
Marijuana remains illegal in numerous other jurisdictions and is still a controlled substance at the federal level. California residents who try to travel with marijuana they purchased in California could be at risk of serious criminal charges.
Leaving the state could lead to trafficking charges
Individuals who transport marijuana purchased in California to another jurisdiction could end up prosecuted by the authorities in that other state if they get caught in possession in a way that violates local laws. In fact, people can get arrested in California if they try to board a plane with local marijuana products.
Those caught in the act of leaving the state or crossing state lines could face trafficking charges instead of simple possession charges in some cases. The circumstances leading to someone’s arrest, including the amount of marijuana in their possession, may influence how the state handles their case.
Contrary to what people might assume, people can still end up facing serious drug charges over theoretically legal substances like marijuana. Understanding the limits on drug policy reform can help people avoid mistakes that lead to criminal charges or more effectively respond to a recent arrest.