In many states with more modern marijuana laws, marijuana possession is now legal for both medical and recreational purposes. After decades of having marijuana classified as an illegal drug in all states across the country, more and more states are now recognizing recreational legality. People within these states can simply go to the store and buy marijuana products, the same way someone in Florida would go to the store and buy a bottle of wine.
However, recreational possession is still illegal in Florida. This is very important to know for tourists who may be coming from other states. Possession of 20 grams or less is still classified as a misdemeanor. It could lead to incarceration for 12 months and a fine of up to $1,000. Possession of more than 20 grams becomes a felony that could lead to five years behind bars. This is a significant difference for someone who lives in a state like Michigan or Illinois, where this type of possession is legal and normal.
You can’t cross state lines
Another thing for tourists to keep in mind is that they can’t fly with marijuana and that they can’t even cross state lines. This is true even if the products have been purchased legally in their home state.
The issue with transporting marijuana is that it is still federally illegal. So even if a certain state has authorized the use, or decriminalized it, crossing state lines turns it into a federal issue. Tourists in Florida could potentially be facing charges for both federal and state-level violations.
Drug laws have certainly gotten more complex as they have begun to change. It’s very important for people to understand all of their defense options, especially when they didn’t realize that what they were doing was actually illegal.
