Marijuana.com

syriss

a close friend of mine just got arrested on a plane flying from NY to somewhere in florida. he grew his own weed and attempted to bring 13oz of pot in vacuum sealed bags on an airplane. He was arrested after boarding the plane, and the police said he is being charged for drug trafficking.

He is 21 yrs old with no previous convictions of any kind.

What kind of jail time/ fine is he looking at?

Also, currently he is out on bail, i havent seen him in person in a few days now. How dangerous for myself do you think it is to try to contact him by phone/ in person? I just dont want police snooping around my stuff too.

 

Mamabudz

WWW,NORML.COM

This would be Federal -- if they picked him up traveling, between states. If he did it with anyoen else involved you are looking at Organization, that's RICO. That's big.

And he was growing and crossing state lines...

He's out ...that means he has an attorney.

I am sure his attorney told him to not speak with anyone ~ wouldn't want him to unintentionally rat out any of his good buddies now would he or perhaps say something to someone he shouldn't? Of course he would expect the exact same courtesy from you so don't try to reach him in his hour of need.

At anytime that an individual -- yourself for example -- believes that they may have acted in a manner outside what they may now believe for any reason could be considered as behavior not deemed legal for that time and place, it is in their best interest to seek the advice and the counsel of an individual with knowledge of these matters, specifically legal counsel.

I do reccomend BUSTED! by Chris Fabricant, Esq.

Say I have to put that link up in my website

Buzzby

Federal possession is a misdemeanor with a max 1 year jail sentence and $1,000 fine. Federal trafficking in an amount less than 50 kilos is a felony with a max 5 year jail sentence and a $250,000 fine.

Federal marijuana penalties

If he's tried under New York statutes, possession of 13 oz is a felony with a 1 - 1.5 jail sentence and a $5,000 fine. Trafficking in that amount is a felony with a 1 - 2.5 year jail sentence and a $5,000 fine.

New York marijuana penalties

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BartSimpson

I wish we had further details of the actual circumstances, because this is an area of particular interest to me.

I would bet the following is involved:

1 - The subject placed the "vacuum packed" MJ in his checked luggage, assuming he had hidden it from "dogs" and that the x-ray process or hand search of luggage was never a factor.
2 - The luggage was accepted at the ticket counter and subject to security screening after it entered the bowels of the luggage area, and that the weed was clearly evident in the x-ray and the resulting hand search.
3 - Because the aircraft boarding process had already occured, he was identified on the aircraft and asked to come back to the gate, surprised to be met by the local police agency for the airport.
4 - That there is no federal case here because it is small time and he was arrested on departure, rather than on arrival.
5 - That unless he was really good at keeping secrets, his little adventure could have been caused by a disgruntled girlfriend, upset client, or other knowledgable person who called in the tip, "for his own good".

To the original poster:

Calling your friend is good, do it and offer kind words and encouragement - but do not discuss his legal case, or MJ, just out of respect (not because of a wiretap). Have that conversation in person and eye-ball to eye-ball. Help your friend in his time of need; be a friend and step up when he needs it. Legal problems are not a virus, and times like these can be real lonely for the subject, so being that friend who steps up and offers a hand is good. A few kind words can really help him. And then invite him to this forum.

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Niteshift

A lot of people actually handle the marijuana, even with gloves on, then handle the bag they are sealing. The odor can transfer to the outside of the bag that way.

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A burning desire for social justice is never a substitute for knowing what you're talking about. -Thomas Sowell

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is muzzle flash.