Some residents in North Carolina were surprised to see that there was an ad on their local Craigslist page for free marijuana plants. The post read, “Free marijuana plants to good home” and explained that the poster was simply “concerned” about the plants they cared for so much, but it was time to find them a new home. The post detailed that they where moving and weren’t able to take the plants, they just wanted a “good home” for the marijuana.
The Craigslist post then gave an address and phone number. The phone number was connected to the local sheriff’s office. There were no recorded arrests linked to the incident and the sheriff’s office is claiming they had nothing to do with the post. This story gives us a good chance to discuss marijuana law in Arizona and what might happen if someone is caught with marijuana plants in the Grand Canyon State.
Arizona’s Stance on Marijuana
In Arizona, it is illegal to possess or grow marijuana. Those caught with it are in need of a good Arizona drug defense attorney, since Arizona has a record of having zero tolerance towards drug offenders. A drug defense attorney can make sure your rights were fully protected prior to your arrest and maintain protected during your criminal proceeding.
Medical marijuana is a different story and has been a hotly contested topic throughout Arizona for the past couple of years. In May 2011, Governer Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne filed a lawsuit against the passing of Arizona Prop 203 and ever since there has been major confusion about the Arizona marijuana laws.
When it was passed, Arizona’s medical marijuana initiative (Prop 203):
- Allows terminally and seriously ill patients who find relief from marijuana to use it with their doctors’ approval.
- Protects seriously ill patients from arrest and prosecution for the simple act of taking their doctor-recommended medicine.
- Permits qualifying patients or their caregivers to legally purchase their medicine from tightly regulated clinics, as they would any other medicine—so they need not purchase it from the criminal market.
- Permits qualifying patients or their caregivers to cultivate their own marijuana for medical use if a regulated medical marijuana clinic is not located within 25 miles of the qualifying patient.
- Creates registry identification cards, so that law enforcement officials could easily tell who was a registered patient, and establish penalties for false statements and fraudulent ID cards.
- Allows patients and their caregivers who are arrested to discuss their medical use in court.
- Keeps commonsense restrictions on the medical use of marijuana, including prohibitions on public use of marijuana and driving under the influence of marijuana.
At Naegle & Crider Criminal Defense Attorneys, we advise all medical marijuana patients to stand up for their rights to legally use and obtain marijuana if they are a registered cardholder. These individuals are currently in accordance with the law. Charlie Naegle has extensive experience defending and winning drug possession charges and follows Arizona drug law and Arizona medical marijuana law very closely. Charlie will work with you directly to see that your case is handled fairly while you receive the best possible outcome.
Charlie Naegle is a Mesa Arizona drug defense attorney who works with individuals in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Phoenix, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Glendale. For more information or to schedule your free, confidential, 24/7 consultation,call 480-245-5550 immediately.