When Colorado made marijuana legal for recreational use, some believed that they were hoping up a “pandora’s box” full of weed. What’s been opened instead are less crimes for possession, prisons with less non-violent criminals and $14 million within the first month of legalization. Which added over $2 million of tax revenue into the state.
Colorado is the wave of the cannabis future. More and more states will be pushing for legal recreational use, to go along with using marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Here in Florida, medical marijuana isn’t even on the radar yet. Although it is getting closer. It’s currently in the process of ending up on the 2014 ballot, where (judging from poll numbers) it would pass easily. Some polls show that it would also pass if it were up for recreational use as well.
Is this because most FL citizens view weed as something positive for our culture? Not necessarily. Perhaps it is because they are fed up with the state’s strict drug policy, especially when it comes to cannabis.
Law enforcement has not let up when it comes to cracking down on marijuana users. Even if you are caught with less than twenty grams of marijuana you could land in prison for up to a year, not to mention a lengthy probation and thousands of dollars in fines. Depending on the circumstances of your arrest, you could even suffer a two-year driver’s license suspension.
If that sounds awful, imagine being busted with more than twenty grams?
While being caught with less than twenty is considered a misdemeanor, more than twenty can result in a felony charge. Jail time, fines, suspended license and being labeled a convicted felon.
If you are caught in any legal situation involving marijuana, you will need an experienced attorney who has been able to get charges reduced and replace prison time with rehab and/or community service.
While opinions are changing rapidly on the subject of marijuana use, law enforcement is still as stubborn as ever here in Florida.
