The Federal government has warned states that have legalized medical marijuana that they can prosecute distributors and dispensaries. Even though many states have legalized marijuana for medical use, the Justice Department has sent letters to the states asserting their jurisdiction over drug laws.
The letters sent out by US attorney generals prompted Chris Gregoire, Governor of Washington State, to veto a law which would create legal marijuana dispensaries.
Two years ago, the Justice Department stated they would not ineffectually use funding to pursue state laws legalizing marijuana, but the climate has recently changed. The Justice Department now says they may pursue civil and criminal penalties for those who run large-scale cultivation and dispensaries of medical marijuana.
Until the Federal government legalizes marijuana on a national scale, the medical marijuana laws passed by individual states are still criminal offenses.
Marijuana is widely used recreationally and medicinally, and now these people could face criminal charges even though it has been legalized in their state.
Another criminal aspect of marijuana consumption can come from a DUI. Marijuana can affect a person’s ability to drive by delaying reactions in a dangerous situation. The best course of action a person can take when faced with a drugged driving charge is to retain a DUI attorney. A DUI charge can entail the loss of driving privileges and often land a person in jail. The only protection from being prosecuted fully by the law comes from a competent DUI lawyer.
