Marijuana Defense Attorney In Los Angeles
I've been dealing with marijuana-related cases for the past twenty-five years in LA County. Things have changed drastically in recent years, with California now permitting the possession and use of marijuana and making it legal to do so.
Where people seem to run into trouble is when they're selling marijuana in large amounts and trying to make a profit from it. Specific rules have to be abided by, and if you don't comply with these rules, then the local authorities will swoop in, arrest everybody, seize everything, and then you're left to defend your case.
The key is to avoid having this issue in the first place. The way to try to get around this is obviously to do things right, to meet with somebody seasoned and experienced in setting up these marijuana shops, who knows all the rules and regulations and what needs to be done to be successful.
Federal Drug Charges
Of course, one of the biggest problems that anybody who's considering being involved with the sale of marijuana has is that, currently, federal law makes marijuana illegal.
So that means anytime the feds want to swoop in, they can do that, arrest everybody, and send the case into federal court. Now, you have to deal with a problematic situation that will cost you time and money, and potential ramifications and consequences related to a federal conviction.
So, the bottom line is this – dealing in marijuana is a risky business. It always has been. It's become less and less dangerous because of the change in the law – the change in perspective across the county – and also because of the medical value that marijuana has and that there are much more serious drugs out there that the feds want to prosecute. The local authorities want to prosecute.
Defenses for Marijuana Charges
So, when it comes to defending marijuana cases, each case will spin on its facts. You can't just say, "I have a cookie-cutter defense," and say, "Okay, if you're charged with this, then this is what we will do every time."
No, it depends on what evidence they have against you, precisely what you did, what you knew, what you didn't know, how much you had, how it was being sold, the circumstances of the arrest, and – I think now more and more – the police are just moving away from arresting people for marijuana-related offenses because they feel like a lot of these cases are just being thrown out. It's a waste of their time.
So, if they do arrest somebody, it's usually going to involve big money, guns, and maybe other drugs—situations where they feel the prosecutors will pursue the case—won't dismiss it—and will try to get a conviction. They think they can make a case stick.
What to Do If You're Charged With A Marijuana Related Offense
I suggest you do what I do in all my cases: meet with a criminal defense attorney who is familiar with the law related to your arrest, has a successful track record in defending marijuana-related cases, and is someone you feel comfortable and confident working with. Review all the facts and details with them.
When you meet with your attorney, come in with a list of questions so that when you leave the meeting, you feel satisfied that they answered all of your marijuana defense-related questions. What I do is we go over everything; I have the client give me all the facts and details in an honest, straightforward, and detailed manner.
I always encourage people not to leave things out or put a spin on things. Just tell me what happened. Even tell me what happened from the police and prosecutor's perspective so we can see how they're going to attack us. Once we have it all laid out on the table, we can start talking about it. Okay, what's the defense going to be? How are we going to deal with this problem? Why did they arrest you, and what can we do to show that they were wrong, that you shouldn't have been arrested, and that you weren't doing anything illegal?
How are we going to deal with this problem? Why did they arrest you, and what can we do to show that they were wrong, that you shouldn't have been arrested, and that you weren't doing anything illegal?
This is just where experience comes in – knowing the law, dealing with these cases in the Los Angeles courts, and knowing what it takes to have a successful marijuana defense in Los Angeles County.
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