Marijuana use for medical purposes became legal in California in 1996, with various limitations for use, possession and cultivation. Since then, legislators throughout the state have been seeking to further regulate medical marijuana and impose additional limitations on the industry; for instance, different jurisdictions have enacted tighter restrictions on marijuana sales for medical purposes.
One recent example comes from San Jose. The city has passed new legislation that places further restrictions on medical marijuana businesses. So-called 'pot shops' will be much more limited in where they can operate in the city. Among the other legal constraints is that medical marijuana facilities will need to hire security 24/7 and prove that all of their plants have been cultivated in a neighboring county.
Medical marijuana businesses have for years been the target of drug raids. Furthermore, individuals who use marijuana for medical purposes also run the risk of facing serious criminal charges, even for seemingly benign, non-violent acts that nevertheless appear to overstep a legal boundary.
The aim of law-enforcement is to try to differentiate between those who are operating legally and those who are trying to take advantage of medical marijuana to push illegal recreational use or sales. But the distinction between what's legal and illegal isn't always clear in a particular case, and sometimes people commit an illegal act unknowingly, in spite of their intentions to comply with the law.
If you're facing charges related to the alleged unlawful use, possession or sale of medical marijuana, be sure to contact us. There are many little ways to violate the laws of medical marijuana use, including exceeding the amount you're allowed to possess and, for medical marijuana businesses, failing to comply with every exacting detail laid out by the ordinances in a given jurisdiction.
Residents who live in or around Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Perris, Banning, Corona, Winchester or Riverside can call on us to fight on their behalf for fair treatment in the legal system and the best possible outcome after facing criminal charges.