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As of January 2020, 11 states have legalized recreational marijuana use which many legal and criminal experts regard as a good thing. Regardless of your personal opinion of marijuana, it is a drug that comes with benefits and hazards like alcohol or any other substance. Not just to your health and body, but to your legal standing and freedom as well.

If you’re a medical marijuana patient, recreational consumer, or something in between, you can always benefit from a criminal attorney’s help when it comes to marijuana. If you happen to be arrested for a DUI because of marijuana, simple possession, or worse offenses, you will want to know the exact letters of the law and how to best navigate your case. There is never such a thing as having too much good information when it comes to marijuana convictions, and we’ll elucidate on this below.

Even if You’re in a Legal State, There Are Restrictions

One of the most commonly held erroneous assumptions about marijuana is that if you’re in a legal state, you’re in the free and clear when it comes to anything regarding the plant. While it would be nice if this was true, there are still many restrictions that can cause you to run afoul of the law and wind up in police custody or worse. For example, even in Colorado (one of the first states to fully legalize marijuana use), criminal attorneys will note that citizens are limited to carrying one ounce of dried marijuana at a time on their person and only cultivating up to six plants at their residence. If you are found to be above these limits, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and may incur hefty fines. Having a criminal defense attorney at hand to navigate these restrictions as it comes to your case might be the difference between jail time and relaxation time for you.

DUIs Can Be Treated Differently for Marijuana

Despite the common notion that Driving Under the Influence (DUI) applies mostly to alcohol, the letter of the law actually applies it to all intoxicating substances. Criminal attorneys will be only too happy to point out that it is just as illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana or cocaine as it is alcohol, but with the added detriment of additional charges that these substances carry. Depending on the state and area that you’re in, a single DUI for marijuana intoxication could cause you to lose or have a suspended license. In other jurisdictions, you might get away with a fine or simple warning. Regardless of what happens, you’ll want a DUI lawyer to give you the right steps to get away with your rights and freedom intact.

They’ll Fight for You in Court

Should you make the error of committing crimes that end up with you sitting trial in a court of law, you’ll want a competent criminal defense lawyer to fight for your rights. Especially one that is well versed in marijuana law and convictions in your area. While they can’t erase everything that you’ve done, there is a high likelihood that they can keep you from going to prison or incurring heavy fines. Especially if it’s your first offense, many criminal attorneys should be able to get you community service or reduced fines combined with a probationary period. This is certainly better than many of the alternatives!

Don’t Let Your Life Go Up in Smoke

Whether you’re a casual smoker, medical patient, or simply got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, don’t let your life go up in smoke. Instead of trying to deal with a marijuana conviction yourself and fighting the legal system alone, hire a criminal defense attorney to advise you on such serious matters. They alone will know the best moves to make, papers to file, and ways to get your sentences or punishments reduced to a manageable level. Don’t make things any more complicated than they absolutely need to be. Your life, liberty, and property will thank you later for your wise decision. Until then, remember to stay safe and be smart!