what type of lawyer would help with pot legalization

Why do Americans support marijuana legalization?

Jan 11, 2022 · 3 Main Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana. To legalize or not to legalize, that is the question. Well, if you ask Americans, based on a recent poll, 60% believe that marijuana should be legal for recreational and medical use. 31% say it should be legalized for medical use only, and a mere 8% are against the legalization.

What are the benefits of legalizing weed?

Jul 06, 2021 · Do I Need a Lawyer for Help with Federal Marijuana Laws? If you have been charged with a federal criminal offense in connection with marijuana, you should contact an experienced drug lawyer. An experienced drug lawyer can give you reliable explanations of the possible punishment for the offense with which you have been charged.

Should marijuana be legalized?

Free Essay on Legalization of Marijuana for Prison Reform at lawaspect.com. Free law essay examples to help law students. 100% Unique Essays. Lawaspect.com. Hire Writer ... (Segura). Clearly, legalization of marijuana, a soft drug, should …

Will the federal government intervene in the legalization of marijuana?

Aug 24, 2021 · Idaho marijuana activists are breathing a sigh of relief after the state Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a law creating a more restrictive petitioning process for ballot initiatives is unconstitutional. The governor signed a bill in April that made it so petitioners would’ve had to collect signatures from at least six percent of registered […]

How does marijuana benefit human health?

In a nutshell, this is how marijuana benefits human health: A higher number of survivors — As blunt as it may sound, out of all the benefits of legalizing medical marijuana, this one is crucial. People battling deadly diseases and with low survival statistics have better chances with cannabis. Obviously, this is an argument that is hard to beat.

How many states have legalized medical marijuana?

Meanwhile, another 33 states have legalized medical marijuana in some way.

What is a cannabis enthusiast?

A cannabis enthusiast, fascinated by the plant’s healing powers and the ever-changing world of the marijuana industry, trying to work out what is going on and let you know all the fun details — that’s my mission here. Keeping you high and healthy!

Why is marijuana legal in Colorado?

The benefits of legalizing weed refer to greater speed in solving crimes too . The crime clearance rates in Colorado and Washington have increased after legalization, as reported by the FBI data. In other words, police officers have more time to deal with violent crimes when they don’t waste time on cannabis offenders.

How much money has Colorado made from legalizing weed?

Ever since Colorado joined the recreational weed states, it has generated over $1 billion in tax revenues. So what’s the secret?

When will cannabis be legalized?

October 31, 2019. If only the whole world knew just how much cannabis is wonderful for our overall health, it would be legalized instantly! With this in mind, we’ll do our best to explain how the benefits of legalizing weed could change the world for the better. Depending on the area you live in, perhaps you have already noticed ...

Is hemp legal in the US?

The recent legalization of hemp on the federal level brought lots of opportunities for growing a new crop. The benefits of legalizing weed are quite obvious for farmers. The US decreased its hemp products import by 57% in 2016, and by 17% in the first half of 2018, investing in domestic production instead.

How long is marijuana in jail?

sentencing guidelines used by judges to determine the punishment for any amount of marijuana possessed: For a second offense: misdemeanor, up to 2 years in jail (with a mandatory minimum of 15 days) and up to $2,500 in fines; and.

How long is a second offense in jail?

For a second offense: misdemeanor, up to 2 years in jail (with a mandatory minimum of 15 days) and up to $2,500 in fines; and. Third offense or more: misdemeanor or felony, up to 3 years in jail, with a mandatory minimum of 90 days, and up to $5,000 in fines.

How long can you go to jail for selling marijuana?

People convicted of selling marijuana paraphernalia are subject to a penalty of 3 years in jail. Simply possessing paraphernalia is not a crime; however, those caught with paraphernalia are subject to a charge of possession of marijuana, once the paraphernalia items are tested for marijuana residue.

How much jail time is there for selling marijuana?

The punishments for selling and cultivating marijuana are as follows: Less than 50 plants (cultivating) or 50 kg (selling): a federal felony, up to five years in jail and up to $250,000 in fines; 1,000 or more plants or kilograms: a federal felony, 10 years to life in jail and up to $1,000,000 in fines.

How much is a simple possession of marijuana?

Simple possession with no intent to distribute is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000. Almost all states and some municipalities have passed laws legalizing the medical and/or recreational use of marijuana use in recent years.

How many ounces of marijuana is legal in Colorado?

In Colorado, it is legal to possess and use marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. It is legal to transport up to 2 ounces and legal to have as many as six plants growing in one’s garden for personal use, more if a person is a commercially licensed grower.

What to do if you are charged with a federal crime?

If you have been charged with a federal criminal offense in connection with marijuana, you should contact an experienced drug lawyer. An experienced drug lawyer can give you reliable explanations of the possible punishment for the offense with which you have been charged.

What is the tax on cannabis?

Purchases of cannabis flower or products with less than 35% THC are slapped with a 10% sales tax. Cannabis-infused products such as edibles come with a 20% tax. Products with a THC concentration higher than 35% come with a 25% tax. Illinois municipalities and counties are able to levy additional local sales taxes.

How much marijuana can you have before it is legalized?

People convicted for possession of under 30 grams of marijuana prior to legalization will have their records referred to the state’s Prisoner Review Board and then to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for a pardon – as long as those convictions were not associated with a violent crime.

How much cannabis can you have in Illinois?

Illinoisans can legally possess 30 grams, or about an ounce, of cannabis flower. The legal limit for cannabis concentrate is 5 grams. And the limit for cannabis-infused products, such as edibles or tinctures, is 500 milligrams of THC, the chemical that gets users high.

How many marijuana stores will be open in Illinois in 2022?

Up to 295 stores could be in operation in Illinois by 2022, according to Marijuana Business Daily. But county and municipal governments will have the power to decide whether to allow sellers to operate in their area.

Is medical marijuana legal in Illinois?

Medical marijuana dispensaries are the only legal sellers of marijuana for recreational use in January 2020. Beginning in mid-2020, Illinois will grant additional licenses to dozens of new stores, processors, cultivators and transporters.

Does Illinois have a sales tax on marijuana?

Illinois municipalities and counties are able to levy additional local sales taxes. The new law also imposes a 7% gross receipts tax on the sale of marijuana from cultivators to dispensaries – a cost that will likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Is Illinois legalizing marijuana?

Answers to frequently asked questions about Illinois’ cannabis legalization law. Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adult use, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker in June signed the bill into law that takes effect today.

How much money would be saved from marijuana arrests?

Gettman, who has a Ph.D. in public policy from George Mason University, suggests that $10.7 billion could be saved each year from the country’s $193 billion in annual criminal justice expenditures if marijuana arrests – 5.54 percent of all criminal apprehensions – were stopped.

How many people smoke marijuana?

Marijuana by the Numbers. According to federal statistics, about 94 million Americans have tried cannabis at some point in their lives. That’s 40 percent of the U.S. population age 12 or older. Estimates suggest that about 25 million Americans are active pot smokers, consuming some 31 million pounds of marijuana a year.

How much tax did Denver collect on marijuana?

Denver collected $3.4 million from sales tax, application and license fees for its medical marijuana dispensaries (of which the city has more of than it has Starbucks coffee shops). Colorado Springs, Colo., collected more than $700,000 in taxes from the marijuana industry.

How much tax did the city of Oakland collect in 2011?

In 2011: The city of Oakland, Calif., collected $1.4 million in taxes from medical marijuana dispensaries – nearly 3 percent of all business tax revenue. The state of Colorado collected $5 million in sales taxes from the medical marijuana business. Denver collected $3.4 million from sales tax, application and license fees for its medical marijuana ...

When was medical marijuana legalized in California?

In 1996 , California became one of the first states to legalize medical marijuana. It is estimated that between $700 million and $1.3 billion worth of medical pot is being sold yearly, bringing the state sales taxes of between $58 million and $105 million.

Why do prisons need to teach diverse skills?

As far as education is concerned, experts believe that jails and prisons must seek to teach diverse skills to prisoners so as to divert their attention from drugs (“Prison and Prisoner Management”). Leisure activities are understood to have a similar effect on inmates (Uchtenhagen).

Why are prisons overcrowded?

It is not surprising, therefore, that American prisons are overcrowded. Illegal drugs are one of the six main reasons for people entering jails and prisons (“Prison and Prisoner Management”). In Canada, almost eighty percent of the people entering jails have a history of substance abuse (“Drugs in Correctional Facilities”).

Why is prison management important?

Statistics in other parts of the world are not quite dissimilar. Thus, prison management is required to help drug-addicted inmates deal with the problem, whether the inmates are able to find drugs in prison or not.

What is the silver lining of the economic crisis?

According to Segura: “As states across the country confront historic budget shortfalls, more and more politicians are looking toward long-overdue criminal justice reform as a way to cut spending. ” The author refers to this change as the “silver lining to the economic crisis” (Segura).

Do prisons stop people from using drugs?

Leisure activities are understood to have a similar effect on inmates (Uchtenhagen). But, jails and prisons do not always stop people from using drugs (“Treating drug users in prison”).

Which states are deliberating the release of thousands of prisoners?

Now that the states of America realize how tremendous the scale of the economic crisis really is, at least Virginia, Michigan, and Kentucky are deliberating release of thousands of prisoners and “deep reforms” in the criminal justice system (Segura).

Can inmates with no history of drug use turn to drug abuse?

Likewise, inmates with no history of drug use may turn to drug abuse as a method of coping with stress. Therefore, prison management must also consider allocating resources to routine urinal analyses of all inmates with or without a history of drug use (“Managing Drugs in Prison”).

Idaho Supreme Court Gives 2022 Marijuana Legalization Initiative A Boost With Ruling On Signature Requirements

Idaho marijuana activists are breathing a sigh of relief after the state Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a law creating a more restrictive petitioning process for ballot initiatives is unconstitutional.

Top Federal Drug Agency Funds Research On Differing Legal Marijuana Regulatory Models

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is renewing its push to promote federally funded research into marijuana as more states enact reform—specifically expressing interest in studies on differing cannabis regulatory models that are in place across the country.

Police Keep Arresting People For Drugs Even As Incarceration Rates Drop, Pew Study Finds

Even as states have adopted less punitive drug policies—with an emphasis on treatment over incarceration—police have continued to arrest people for illegal substances at a steady rate, a new analysis from the Pew Charitable Trust found.

How long does it take for a marijuana smoker to raise his heart rate?

9. Risk of Getting Heart Disease. Marijuana use raises the heart rate from 20 to 100 percent for up to three hours after it has been smoked, increasing the risk of getting other health problems, such as arrhythmia, heart palpitations and heart attack.

How does marijuana affect perception?

Considering that marijuana is a drug, which by definition changes the way the human body works, its use would lead users to experience a high that alters their perception while under influence. For instance, low to moderate doses distort perception that is enough to cause traffic accidents.

Is marijuana addictive?

Marijuana legalization supporters argue that weed is not as addictive as other harder drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, but addiction treatment specialists have seen firsthand that long-term use does lead to addiction. Research found that as many as a tenth of users have developed dependence over time.

Is smoking weed a crime?

Even if the drug is shown to have harmful effects, it is still the right of every individual to decide what harms him or not. Smoking weed is generally considered as a “victimless crime”, where only the user is at risk of experiencing the effects.

Is marijuana legal in the US?

Legalized marijuana or weed for recreational use is already existent in several states in the US, including Colorado and Washington, where voters passed ballot initiatives to realize it. As expected, considering that weed is considered as a dangerous drug, the move has raised plenty of questions and has become a hot topic in debates.

Is weed a gateway drug?

In fact, study shows that weed is one of the most prevalent illegal drugs found in fatally injured and impaired drivers. 3. Gateway Drug Status. Addiction treatment specialists believe that weed is a gateway drug that potentially introduces users to more serious illegal substances of abuse.

Can you know if you are buying weed off the street?

When a person buys weed off the street, there is no way he would exactly know what dangerous substances are cut into it. On the other hand, current legalization efforts create a framework for a safety control system, which will work to get rid of the risk coming from smoking marijuana. 5.

How much THC is in a pot smoker?

That’s because different people metabolize weed differently, and an inexperienced pot smoker may be too baked to drive, but have only 3 to 4 nanograms of THC in their blood. Until a more reliable way of detecting impaired driving is found, states that legalize pot will likely be left with a similar dilemma. 3.

Why do prohibitionists evoke big tobacco?

Marijuana prohibitionists have resorted to evoking ‘Big Tobacco’ because they essentially have no compelling arguments remaining. ”. Download. Tvert argued that as with many consumer industries like alcohol, the people buying the product will play the most essential part in shaping Big Marijuana.

Why is the price of marijuana so high?

But what many first noticed was the high price of legal weed, inflated in part due to high demand, limited supply and a bevy of taxes — including a 15 percent wholesale tax and a 10 percent special state retail tax on marijuana transactions, on top of whatever other state and city taxes are already being levied.

Is the 5 nanogram limit a law?

On the one hand, the 5 nanogram limit unfairly criminalizes many law-abiding medical cannabis users who usually have higher levels of THC in their veins than your average Joe. Such users have a higher tolerance for weed, and can be arrested just for driving to the supermarket even if they may not be impaired.

Is marijuana becoming more popular?

As marijuana acceptance grows, alternative pot products, including edibles that are highly concentrated with THC, will continue to get more and more popular. Opponents of legal weed have expressed concerns that this will lead to increased incidents of accidental or over-ingestion, especially among children. Studies have suggested there’s been an uptick in weed-related hospital visits, though supporters and opponents of legal marijuana differ on just how serious of a problem this trend is.

Does marijuana cause cancer?

However, there are also studies that have shown that marijuana actually combats certain cancers, and other studies that show no link at all.

Does smoking marijuana cause car crashes?

With anti-marijuana laws loosening in states across the nation, there are legitimate fears that stoned driving will cause a rise in car crashes. Smoking pot can make it harder to concentrate and maintain attention on the road, and can decrease coordination, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Yet the tools that cops use to detect whether people are driving under the influence of weed are sometimes inadequate.