Arizona is one of the states that has made marijuana legal, at least for individuals who use it for medical reasons. In 2010, residents of the state voted to pass the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, which called upon the state to create a medical marijuana program.
The law allows people who have a written certification from a physician to posses up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. Conditions that people can use medical marijuana to treat include cancer, AIDS, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma and Hepatitis C. However, just because people are legally able to use marijuana for medical conditions, it does not mean that possession is legal for all state residents.
It is still against the law for people to possess marijuana for recreational use or with the intent to sell it, with penalties being particularly stiff for someone with more than 28 grams of marijuana in their possession. If people have more than two pounds of marijuana in their possession, they face between six and eighteen months of incarceration and up to $150,000 in fines. Possessing two pounds of marijuana for any reason, including sale or cultivation, is a felony.
People who are facing drug charges should be aware that how evidence was collected by law enforcement may be crucial to how their case turns out. When police do not follow legal procedures or infringe upon someone’s rights, it may result in a case being thrown out or decided in the person’s favor. A drug crimes lawyer in Surprise, AZ could explain someone’s rights as well as building a defense for them. Alternatively, a lawyer could arrange for a plea bargain that reduces someone’s potential penalties.