I accually did this a year and a half ago and got arrested. I was wondering what you guys thought about this. I got put through hell. I am 18 and a half and am still suffering because of it. I should be saving money for college but they slap a huge fine on me($1685), of which I am still paying off, for one plant growing in my room under my fluresent lamp along with my other plants(peppers, jade plant, assorted cacti, snake plant, english ivy, and some peruvian goldenberrys). Oh yeah I am going to study botany in college. I was growing the plant out of curiosity mostly although I have to admit to using the herb several times before. The core of the question is the laws against marijuana have caused more harm to me than the use of the drug ever did? Is this right? Also shouldn't I be the boss of what I choose to put into my own body? The laws and probation still can't control my use, of which I have used while on probation, so why do they try so hard to ruin my life?
138798
Just because a law doesn't make sense is no reason to knowingly break it. \n\nShould it be illegal? In my personal opinion, probably not. Is it illegal? Apparently yes. Did you know it was illegal at the time you broke it? Sounds like it.\n\nIf you don't like the law, change the law. Remember, just about every civil rights leader in the 1960s who stood up in defiance of bad laws were also prosecuted (successfully) under them. It's not about whether the laws are good or not. It's about whether, as a country, we are going to respect the rule of law.
30230
Basic answer: I'm fairly sure it's what is known as a 16-2-3 felony...meaning you can get 16 months, 2 years or 3 years in prison.\n\nDon't freak out.  Post some more information and I can probably narrow that down for you.  Sometimes we charge 11350 and we're wrong.  Here's what I would want to know to give you a better idea:\n\nWhat was the drug?\n\nHow much of it was there?\n\nDoes the arrestee have prior convictions for anything?\n\nIs the arrested person on probation or parole?\n\nAnd above all else, it ain't over until the fat lady sings, and nobody gets punished for anything if they're not guilty.  \n\nPost some more details and I'll keep an eye on this question so I can come back and edit my answer.\n\nDon't tell me anything the police don't already know (in other words, don't tell me your boyfriend got arrested for a quarter gram of cocaine but the cops missed the four kilos at the house).\n\n2/9/06: Well, depending on the county he's on probation in, prison is certainly a possibility.  Failing to appear and having a dirty test are bad enough, but to have more cocaine (and based on the 11350 charge you're asking about, I'm assuming it was coke...meth would be 11377) on him when he was arrested is certainly not good.  He may well have probation revoked and reinstated (basically a "do-over") and might end up with a lengthy stay in jail as a sanction.  I have to tell you, though...depending on the county you guys are in, prison is not out of the question.  Some counties are lenient and others are not.  Prop 36 (not 39) court is a good thing, but you have to behave if you want to stay in it.  \n\nWas he charged with a new possession offense when he was arrested, or are they handling the dope he had on him when he was arrested as just a violation of probation?  I would imagine they'll handle it as a violation of probation, rather than opening a whole new case...and a VOP can sometimes carry a stiffer penalty than a new case.  A lot of this will also depend on what the terms of his probation were when he was put into Prop 36 court.  If he received a suspended sentence (meaning that the judge told him he will send him to prison if he screws up *again*, but will let him do Prop 36 instead), he may very well go to prison on this new violation.  \n\nThere's a lot of variables and once your boyfriend has had a chance to talk with his attorney, he'll have a pretty good idea of where his case is heading.\n\nIf you are really as unfamiliar with drugs as you've said, I've got to suggest that maybe this guy is not for you.  It would appear that he's a little *too* familiar with drugs...and although that wasn't your question, that is my answer.\n\nBest of luck to both of you.
427536
I know, isn't that just a dumb fu**** up policy? I mean, what about people who commit serious violent crimes, like rape and murder? They could be convicted, do some time, go on parole, get rehabbed, and get money to get a college degree... Seriously, the application doesn't even ask.\n\nAnyway, if the information you have presented is accurate and you are as sincere as you sound, I definitely encourage you to keep asking people about this (although I realize you may not want to reveal this to people) to get more info and to build support and also advocate for yourself via all the avenues available to you and then some. Good luck!
422624
Possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana is not an arrestable offense.  As long as the offender can provide sufficient identification and promises to appear in court, the officer will not arrest the offender.  Upon conviction of the misdemeanor charge the offender is subject to a fine of $100.  Possession of greater than 28.5 grams is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.\n\nProposition 36\nThe Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act passed by 61% in 2000 \n \nPossession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana on school grounds when the school is open is punishable by up to 10 days in jail and a $500 fine.  Possession of greater than 28.5 grams or more of marijuana in a school zone is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.\n\nThe cultivation or processing of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to sixteen months in state prison.  There is an exception to the cultivation prohibition for patients or patients’ caregivers who possess or cultivate for personal use by the patient upon approval of a physician.\n\nThe laws regarding possession and cultivation of marijuana do not apply to patients or patients’ primary caregivers who possess or cultivate marijuana for the personal medical use of the patient, upon the recommendation or approval of a physician.\n\nSelling marijuana in any amount is punishable by 2 – 4 years in the state prison.  Giving away less than 28.5 grams is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $100.\n\nSale of marijuana to a minor is punishable by 3 – 5 years in prison.  \n\nFor anyone under the age of 21 convicted of any of the above offenses, the state may suspend the offender’s driver’s license for up to one year.\n\nPossession of paraphernalia is a civil fine of $200-$300 for the first offense and goes up to $5,000-$6,000 for a fifth or subsequent violation within a five-year periood.\n\nA breakdown of CA county and local medical marijuana guidelines is available here: http://www.safeaccessnow.net/countyguidelines.htm.\n \n\n Decriminalization: The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation.\n\n Medical marijuana: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective. For more information see NORML's Medical Marijuana section.
333541
Here...a real answer and actual help:\n\n1.  The card is only as reliable as the paper/plastic it's printed on.  However, guessing that that isn't really what you want to know, let's move on.\n\n2.  Will the card actually work?  It depends (man...this is going to be a long answer and I *so* hate dealing with this topic any more).\n\nIf your friend has a card for her own personal use (and this is what your question leads me to believe), and she's stopped with 25 pounds of weed in her car, she's going to jail.  Probably go to jail if she has 20 pounds...probably 15...probably 10...probably 5 and less than that, who knows?\n\n(trying to shorten this up a bit...) Let's just look at it this way:\n\nIf your friend has a card, and has a reasonable amount of marijuana on/with her at the time she comes into contact with law enforcement, she should not have a problem under current California law.  What's reasonable?  That's an excellent question anymore.  \n\nIf your friend is driving around with a pound in her car, and she's going to your house for dinner, there's a good chance she's going to jail (why would she need a pound just to go to your house for dinner?).\n\nOn the other hand, if your friend has a pound in the car because she's coming from her yearly trip to Humboldt County where she gets her weed for the entire year (and she can make the cops believe that), she's probably okay.\n\nIf she has small amounts of marijuana with her, and a reasonable justification for why she has it, she *should* be okay (come to think of it, I let a guy go tonight with three or four grams of hash for this very reason...he had a card, and he had a reasonable story).  \n\nIf she's carrying large amounts, she'd better have a really good reason.\n\nIf the Feds stop her, there's no telling.  They don't buy the whole "legal in California" thing, so they might take it, or they might take her.\n\nBottom line regarding the kid, though:\n\nCPS isn't going to detain a child just because their parent is a dope smoker, provided the parent is taking care of the kid...and especially if the dope smoker is smoking for medical reasons.  If your friend does get herself arrested some dark and stormy night and there's nobody she can call to take the kid, CPS would certainly take the kid until your friend gets out of jail, but I doubt they would detain her.\n\nTo summarize:\n\nThe card will *probably* keep your friend out of trouble, provided she's reasonable in how much weed she has.\n\nIf she stays out of trouble because of her reasonable use of marijuana, CPS won't have any reason to deal with her.\n\nNow...having said all that...go back and read my answers, and put the words "usually" and "generally" all throughout my them.  Your friend shouldn't have any problems, but there are a lot variables that can enter into the equation here, and I just can't deal with all of them in a Yahoo post.
469517
Thanks for the opportunity to let me respond to your most serious question. To answer your question, I would say no, don't smoke weed. I say this not because its illegal. You already know that and you know if you get caught it would be known to a lot of people, especially prospective employers. But I'm not on a legal or moral crusade, I'm more practical so here is my attempt to dissuade you from smoking grass.\n\nIf you are young, I feel weed puts your future at risk. This could be your financial future, mental future or health future. To me, I don't think all these risks equal the buzz your receive for a half hour or so. To me, I feel those who lack self-esteem, those who lack drive and those who just have an "I don't care" attitude will encourage you to try weed. They are screwed up, so as you know, misery loves company.\n\nAnd I know that smoking, drinking alchohol and a whole lot of other things are just as bad. They are, but why take a chance of messing up by smoking weed. I would hope that a sensible person would have more value of themselves than to put themselves in jeopardy by smoking weed. \n\nBottom line, weed makes you overall lethargic, removes motivation, makes you a professional dreamer and basically kills a whole lot of brain cells. If you care to investigate, you'd see that prolonged weed use kills a whole lot of brain cells and bottom line, makes you less intelligent.  Again, I'm not trying to be dramatic or an alarmist, I'm stating already substantiated facts. \n\nThen, if you are one of a few individuals who have an addictive personality, the possibility exist that weed can be your gateway drug to more potent hallucinogens.\n\nWhatever you decide, God Bless, and take care,\n\nTX Guy
399923
I've studied this subject a lot and i find that most people are ignorant and only know the propaganda they've been taught. They think its a gateway drug(A study in Neatherlands showed that when weed was legalized the use of heroin and cocaine went down buy a small percentage, so the gateway theory is shit) they've been told that marijuana now is way more potent then what people used to smoke(thats true, but thats a good thing, back in the days you had to smoke a lot more to get high, which means you got more of the other crap you don't need, with higher thc levels you only need a couple of puffs and your good) The whole thing that weed smoke is 4 times more harmful to you then cigg. smoke is also bs. From what i've read, they burned tobacco leaves and marijuana leaves. Every smoker knows nobody smokes the leaves of the marijuana, its the buds we want, in fact we try to keep the buds as leaf free as possible. The whole study was pretty much done by govn't paid scientist who did everything they could to make weed look terrible. People don't realize you don't have to just smoke weed, you can make cannabutter, or smoke with vaporizer which is way healthier way of smoking. The study the US govern't did before is trash and no real scientists buys it. They now realize that the Govn't scientist pretty much cheated and did misleading tests and gave misleading facts. Plus the US govn't gets lots of money and power through the "WAR ON DRUGS".  Like when they say well weed has over 3,500 chemicals in it, thats when you tell them well coffee has over 5,000 chemicals what the hell does that prove. Theres poisons that have only couple of chemicals, so the amount of chemcials means nothing, but it seems like a big deal to the ignorant. Hopefully my generation will see through the lies and make things right. You know over 1,000 people die each year from prescription drugs, taking them the way they were prescribed by their doctor, how many people died from weed 0. Enough said, sorry for writing so much, i just have so much to say. I can keep going but i don't want to waste your day reading it all. LOL Happy 420
160415
There really is no substitute, I don't care what they are trying to sell over the internet. The police wouldn't care. They would take you to jail just as fast. Every time you have the desire to smoke get a garden hoe and go outside and hoe the grass in your yard. Soon you'll be exhausted and before long you can plant flower seeds... then you can pull the weeds out... then water them every morning and night ... and them hoe up some more grass and make a new flower bed. Before long, you will have a beautiful yard full of flowers. When the police drive past your place they will only think good thoughts. Then you can sit out in you're beatuful garden and drink chamomile tea made from the chamomile flowers that you grew yourself. There is alot of power in perfectly legal flowers. Hence, FLOWER POWER.
373676
It doesn't work and its terrible for your lungs and your brain.\n\nIts a fact that Cannabis doesn't kill brain cells, it simply "tickles" the receptors that the chemical dopamine resides in.  This makes the dopamine go back into your spinalchord reliving back pain and also since its not in your brain you get hungry, hence the munchies.\n\nALL smoke does however contain carbon monoxide but that can be filtered through water or even avoided by cooking or using a vaporizor.\n\nThe legal bud will not get you stoned, it will just give you a bad headache and a bad taste in your mouth.  Probally also sore lungs and not enough money in your wallet to get real nuggets.\n\nSalvia Divinorium extract DOES work but its nothing like Cannabis.  And its kinda difficult to consume because you have to use a torch lighter, use a water bong, and hold the smoke in your lungs for 30 seconds.  Its intense so dont do it alone.  But it is legal.  Just nothing like cannabis.\n\nI'd just stick with cannabis, and be careful not to get caught because the only thing thats dangerous about cannabis is it's legal status.
187169
Theres nothing wrong with weed. \n\n Its feared for no good reasons other than its illegl.  And that doesnt mean much more than whatever the gov wants it to mean.  there are plenty of things that were illegal at one time and are accepted now so legality doesnt mean bad.\n\nThe only problem with it, and with any other thing is if it becomes a problem.  If it effects their life in negative ways.  I smoke and my grades are fine, my friends (who smoke and dont smoke) are all still cool with me as their friend.
262999
Not true.  Those laws are controversial and apply only to specific localities.  Step outside that locality and you will be arrested.  In fact, the feds freely ignore those local and even state laws and arrest people and successfully convict them.  California is the only state to pass a law like this on the state level and the feds freely ignore it and arrest people.  Actually, they show great restraint in this.  They only arrest the 90% of people who fraudulently claim they are sick in an attempt to smoke pot recreationally.  They ignore the ones who are actually sick.
467984
I will tell you this. I do not believe that marijuana is as bad as "they" say it is but, when I smoked it took away my ambitions in life.  I wanted to have a degree in Paramedic medicine but I chose to smoke.  Do I love the feeling,yes.  Do I regret starting, not really but there wil always be someone to complain no matter what the topic is.  It is in their nature.  The common feeling is the feeling you want to sleep and you eat everything in sight.  If you decide to try it then I suggest you make a very serious decision as to what you will do with the rest of your life, because I know there are celebs that smoke but with money comes power and leniency.  As for us common folk we dont get the same breaks and we are the ones that face the consequences for what they can buy their way out of.  I still smoke by the way and I would do that before I would ever take a drink of booze.
328958
Marijuana does not kill you.  (Unless it's from high cholesterol from eating too many munchies :P.) Lung cancer may be a factor - but the same is true of cigarettes, and they are far from illegal!  \n\nI lived in the Caribbean for over a year and am originally from Canada...two of the best places to find marijuana... so I've seen my fair share of chronic users.  I'm yet to see anyone go crazy from pot use... in fact, they are generally very nice, mellow people...especially the Rastafaris I met when living offshore.  That being said, as with anything, moderation is key. If his using is upsetting you, then I would talk to him about it... not because he's using this "drug" but because he's OVERUSING a substance...(the same way you would if he were drunk on alcohol everyday).\n\nI view pot the same way I view alcohol..ie: I think if alcohol is legal that pot should definitely NOT be criminalized.  I've been witness to quite a few violent acts as a result of alcohol use - but am yet to ever see one by someone who's buzzed from puffing on a joint.  If you want to support his desire to experience the Rastafari way, then I would suggest coming to a compromise on how often he should be trying to attain "enlightenment".  \n\nOther than that, try to remember that there is a reason why pot isn't illegal everywhere (there are even countries where you don't need to have a Rx to partake) ...IMHO alcohol is much much worse.
188454
Yes it is.  Fill out the FAFSA and talk with your school.  It seems that the limitation is whether you have been convicted of drug related offenses.
501409
You hit it right on the head when you said that no one wants to take responsibility for their actions...after all, no one held a gun to their head and said here, smoke this.  People probably figured that since they are addicted to it, they may as well as try to get some money.  It's called extortion.  And unfortunately you can do that and sometimes get away with it in America.  Aahh!  The justice system of this country.
228797
See my previous answer. If you've been taking it for two years, why can't you get it the legal way? I think you need to get help hon. Sorry.
432819
dont you wish now that you wouldnt have got into trouble? i think that its going to be terrible there for you. i dont know what you done or how old you are. that does make a difference. \nif i had to go to jail, i would write letters and sleep alot and i would keep to myself. that 6 months is going to seem like 6 years. make it a learning experience and dont ever commit any crime again. im sure there are people that love you, its going to be hard on them too. good luck to you