Marijuana Possession

Marijuana is now legal in the state of Washington.

However, you should know that it still remains illegal under federal law, so you probably do not want to carry pot on federal land, like a national park or a federal courthouse. Beyond that, you still have to be careful: there are also state restrictions on the usage of marijuana, which could get you into trouble.

Just like with alcohol, only individuals over the age of 21 are permitted to ingest marijuana and have it in their possession. Possession is limited to one ounce of marijuana. Alternatively, you can have 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused product, like a brownie or cookie, or 72 ounces of an infused liquid, like oil.  The possessed item must only be for personal use.

There are also restrictions on where you can ingest marijuana. If you are in a location where you cannot smoke cigarettes or cannot drink alcohol, then you will not be able to smoke marijuana there. You are not permitted to smoke in most places, such as bars and restaurants, so you cannot smoke marijuana there. Alternatively, you cannot have open alcohol containers out in public, so you cannot smoke pot out in public. Violations of these rules could potentially get you an infraction as opposed to a criminal charge.

Bottom line, the safest place to enjoy marijuana is in the private confines of someone’s home (and don’t drive afterwards!)

If you've found yourself facing criminal charges related to marijuana, call our office today. Our experienced Washington criminal defense lawyers will help you understand your options and fight to protect your rights.