The entire West Coast of the United States has legalized recreational marijuana. This includes California, Washington and Oregon. In states where recreational use has been legalized, people are generally able to go to the dispensary and buy marijuana products, similarly to the way that someone in another state may go to the local corner store and buy a bottle of wine.
But what if you’re taking a road trip this summer and leaving California? Are you allowed to bring the marijuana products that you own with you? After all, you did purchase them legally at home.
2 potential issues
This can be problematic for a few different reasons. The first is that not all states have legalized recreational marijuana. In states like South Carolina, it remains fully illegal. In states like Florida, there are some potential medical uses, but it has not been legalized for recreational use. In states like Texas, certain types of CBD are allowed, which may contain some THC, but this is far from full legalization. So if you end up in a state where marijuana is still illegal, you could be arrested, even though you bought it in California.
The second thing to remember is that the federal laws have not yet changed. Marijuana remains illegal. For this reason, you can’t fly or drive across state lines with it in your possession. If you do, you are then violating federal laws.
Your defense options
Perceptions of marijuana may have changed significantly in California over the years, which could lead to some oversight or mistakes. If these in turn lead to an arrest, be sure you know what defense options you have.
