towelie13

k so i am pretty confused on some of the stuff about medical marijuana.

What is the deal with the state laws being different from federal laws and how are they different?

How do u get a MMJ card and how old do u have to be?

If a cop were to catch u smoking pot and u showed him the card wud u get in any trouble?

Thanks in advance.

Kushy

Federal (meaning the entire US) law prohibits all forms of marijuana. State law (individual states) allow medical marijuana. So basically there are two laws that contradict each other. In certain states, where medical marijuana is allowed, cops (who follow state law) do not bust medical patients, however, federal law (think DEA) prohibits all marijuana, even if used for medicinal purposes.

You have to live in a state that allows MMJ (What state do you live in?)
AK, CA, CO, HI, ME, MI, MT, NV, NM, OR, RI, VT, and WA
If you live in one of those states^^ You are qualified.
You must be 18 or older to get a card, and if you are under 18, parent signature/permission is required.

If you were blazing up with the homies and a cop pulls you over and you show him a card, he's not going to accept it because when you smoke with your friends you're doing it for recreational uses. However, if you were clearly self-medicating and NOT driving, the cop would probably leave you alone.

__________________
Drinking and driving leads to DUI
So I try to stay sober while I'm drivin this high

towelie13

k thanks. So you could get arrested by the DEA for using mmj?

Kushy

Theoretically yes, but the real answer is no. DEA isn't a "patrol" on the lookout for drug users. They leave that to the cops. What the DEA does is find big time dealers and bring them down (dispensaries are also dealers). The chances of you ever eeven seeing a DEA agent is next to nothing, so don't even worry.

Bodhi1976

Under federal law, marijuana is illegal - period. All states have their own mj laws with different consequences. Thirteen states allow people with medical problems to use mj, but that differs widely from state to state.

You need to get a recommendation from your doctor and then apply to the county for a card - that's in CA. Not all states issue cards. Minors can get cards only if applied for by their parents or guardians.

It depends on the circumstances. Some state laws do not permit mmj patients to smoke in public.

If you live in one of those states and have a medical condition that state's mmj law accepts as valid. In CA, that can be anything. In some other states, you have to be close to terminal before you qualify.

No state permits driving while under the influence, whether you're a medical user or not. If you're caught blazing while driving, you're in a world of trouble. DUID can be a lot worse than possession of weed.

You could, theoretically. In practice, no. A DEA spokesman said that they're not interested in anything less than 100 pounds or 100 plants. They're after dealers, not users.