As someone who worked in the medical field for over a decade, Medical Marijuana is a topic of great interest to me & one I will be exploring more in 2018. This is a Guest Post.
{Guest Post}
Medical Marijuana (Cannabis) has been legal here in California for a while now. Beginning tomorrow, January 1, 2018, recreational marijuana will be legal too. The passing of Prop 64, now makes it legal to grow and sell marijuana for recreational use.
Don’t worry, you’re not gonna see Cannabis for sale at your local grocery store; marijuana products can only be sold at licensed dispensaries.
Effective tomorrow, adults 21 and over can legally consume marijuana without having a doctor’s recommendation for medical use. They can also possess up to an ounce of marijuana buds or 8 grams of cannabis concentrates. For cannabis novices (like me), that’s a lot more than a single joint, or a handful of them. Prop 64 immediately allows residents to grow as many as six pot plants at home, indoors, or in enclosed structures.
I know you probably have lots of questions, and I hope to help answer some of those in the weeks & months ahead.
“So, you can just like walk in and get the stuff?”
“Yes Uncle Clem, but not exactly.”
“Do the cops bother you?”
“No, Aunt Gertrude.”
See where this is going?
Even though the 23 states that now allow cannabis to be used either medicinally, or recreationally have their own set of laws, they are quite uniform and pretty self-explanatory. Most people still cannot wrap their heads around the notion that the “wacky tobacky” is now legal.
Here are some do’s and dont’s of doobies for the next time you get an itch to visit Cali (or any other state where cannabis is legal):
DO: Be 21 Years Old Or Older
Sorry kids, (literally) this stuff is for the grown-ups. I’m sure the majority of you tried cannabis as a teenager, and while this article passes no judgement, the state tends to disagree that teens should be able to use it. Since the cannabis commissions of the legal states delegated the enforcement of the law under the same state branches that regulates alcohol, this makes cannabis available to those 21 and older only. Every dispensary you go to that’s certified to sell cannabis, will most certainly ID you. Which brings up the next do …
DO: Bring VALID ID
We all have had the expired driver’s license and tried to buy beer, or a pack of smokes, only to have the clerk shut you down like Sunshine Anderson. “Excuse me, this is expired.” (Darnit!) All of the dispensaries will ID you. This. Is. Fact. If you try and be cute and finesse your way inside, you are in for a world of hurt. There is security at the door and they are always checking for valid ID, meaning it has not expired, and your current age is at least 21.
DO NOT: Consume In Public Places
This is why we cannot have nice things. (Gosh, I sound like my mother) All of the legal states cannabis laws strictly prohibit the use of it in public. This means you cannot just get some Grandaddy Purp, and roll it up on the Golden Gate Bridge. Marijuana use is allowed only on private property, not parks, or sidewalks, or anywhere where smoking is banned. People using marijuana in a public place can be subject to a $100 infraction. The fine increases to $250 in no-smoking areas. Also, mere possession is banned in schools or youth centers. (Enjoy it in the privacy of your own home.)
Cannabis users can also consume in private clubs or at events that are licensed for on-site marijuana consumption and are not visible by people under 21 or from any public place.
DO NOT: Drive While Medicated
This is probably the most important of what not to do, as it pertains to cannabis. Most states allow the possession, transport, and use of up to an ounce on each individual person. While the law permits you have it, you cannot operate a moving vehicle while under the influence. Police squads and task forces are stepping their games up and cracking down on cannabis users who are driving while high. They now have swab tests, and some are experimenting on breathalyzers that can detect cannabis. You can actually get a D.U.I. ticket, if caught. How embarrassing would that be? Many dispensary’s advise you to keep your Cannabis in the trunk, can’t smoke it or eat it if it’s locked away.
So the next time you come back from the land of utopia, you can now explain, “Yes, Grandma. I bought an ounce of OG Kush legally, you want some?!”
Disclaimer: I have never smoked marijuana, but I am extremely interested in learning more about medical cannabis and its benefits. I will be exploring the topic in depth in future posts. Thank you to my guest poster, for sharing this post on my blog.
