Has The Legalization of Marijuana in Michigan Changed How Cops Enforce The Law? (Pt 2)

cannabis

Hi there, welcome back and thanks for joining us again. We’re looking at the issue of marijuana law in Michigan, and how challenging it is for the police to enforce the law because it changes often and isn’t always as clear cut as they’d like. Although legalization has changed a lot of things in Michigan, some aspects of pot law are straightforward – like the fact that you can’t drive while you’re high, and you can’t give marijuana products of ANY kind to minors under the age of 21. But there are lots of other, less clear aspects of the law that have local police departments all over Michigan scratching their heads…

Since legalization, local police departments aren’t sure how to handle pot-related issues

As our state settles into its new embrace of recreational marijuana, police departments all over Michigan are grappling with how to enforce marijuana laws. (Legalization changed a lot more than just the law!) When an officer pulls you over and you’ve got a baggie of pot in your glovebox, it’s not really an issue anymore. Unless you have kids in the car with you, or you have an excessive amount or you’ve been smoking while you drive down the road. Then you’re still breaking the law, because drugged driving is still very illegal, and having your weed stash out where your kids can access it is also a big no-no!

Smoking pot in public is illegal, but most cops aren’t on the lookout…

Because recreational pot is now legal, and people can legally transport small amounts of weed in their cars with them (as long as it isn’t more than 2.5 oz at a time!), the smell is becoming more commonplace in public spaces. Marijuana has a very strong, and very unique smell. As a result, while smoking in public is illegal in Michigan, it’s getting harder to tell if the smell you’re smelling is drifting over from a nearby home, soaked into the clothes of someone who walked past you a moment ago, or from a surreptitious public smoker. So many officers simply aren’t making an effort to find out.

Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean there aren’t rules you must follow!

Marijuana may be legal in Michigan, but it’s not a free-for-all! There are still laws you have to follow, or you could get into serious trouble! For example, you’re not allowed to smoke weed in any public space, like a park or the street, and you’re not allowed to drive under the influence. No one under the age of 21 may consume marijuana, and giving weed to to minors can get you into a lot of trouble. Also, if you have kids at home and you smoke weed, you have to keep your stash locked up and out of sight so your kids don’t get into it! And the federal law is lurking overhead. Technically, the feds can (and do) make arrests for pot possession, manufacture and distribution. 

If you need help fighting drug charges in Michigan, call The Kronzek Firm!

Michigan law surrounding marijuana has undergone a LOT of changes in recent years, so we understand how confusing this can be for people. After all, there’s a lot to stay current on since legalization, and frequent changes can make it difficult to know just what’s legal and what isn’t. If you find yourself being investigated for, or accused of, a drug-related crime in Michigan, regardless of which drug it is, call The Kronzek Firm at 866 766 5245 to get help now.Our Michigan drug defense attorneys have spent decades fighting to protect the rights of people from all over the lower peninsula. We’re an experienced and aggressive team of drug crime defense attorneys, who thoroughly pursue all avenues of defense. Call us at 866  7NoJail to put our aggressive drug defense team on your side right away.

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