Cannabis is legal in Colorado. People in the state can use medical marijuana or recreational marijuana. Colorado has a reputation for being one of the first states to move forward with these laws, especially as they pertain to recreational marijuana, so many people assume that they can no longer be arrested for marijuana offenses within the state.
But this is not true. While the cannabis laws have changed, there are still plenty of ways that people could be arrested for marijuana-related offenses. Below are three examples.
Underage purchase or use
To begin with, recreational use of marijuana is only legal for those who are 21 and older, just like alcohol. People who are underage could still be arrested. This is a significant issue for college students, for example, who may be tempted to use marijuana illegally, even though they are still in their teens.
Possession limits
Additionally, people are not supposed to possess more than 2 ounces of marijuana at a time, in most cases. Excessive amounts could lead to criminal charges. For instance, it is a level four felony to have more than 12 ounces of cannabis. This could lead to a fine of $100,000 and up to two years in jail.
Traveling out of state
Finally, the changes to Colorado’s cannabis laws only apply in Colorado. If you take the products out of state, you could be arrested for crossing state lines, which is a federal offense. You could also be arrested if the state you entered doesn’t allow recreational marijuana. Having made the purchase in Colorado doesn’t mean you can’t be charged elsewhere.
If you do find yourself facing charges, then it’s important to know exactly what legal defense options you have.