Bethesda Marijuana Possession

Marijuana is one of those charges that is treated differently because the general attitude is that it is not quite as serious of a criminal violation as other drugs. In fact, small amounts of marijuana no longer constitute a criminal offense within the State of Maryland. However, larger amounts of more than 10 grams are considered a violation.

The courts and prosecutors recognize that marijuana is not quite as serious a drug as some of the others. For that reason, the penalties and methods of handling those cases are usually more relaxed than other controlled dangerous substances.

If you have been charged with possession of marijuana and are seeking legal representation, it is critical that you consult with an experienced Bethesda drug attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your Bethesda marijuana case and build a defense to help lessen or dismiss any penalties associated with your charge.

Defense Aspects

The aspects of defending a marijuana possession case in Bethesda are the same as defending other drug cases. Marijuana, as with other drug-related cases, has the same constitutional issues as to whether somebody’s property or premises was properly searched.

One aspect that is different with respect to marijuana cases versus other cases is that often, officers can use the odor of marijuana to establish probable cause to search a particular premises.
With cases that do not involve marijuana in Bethesda, the authorities do not struggle with the question of whether the officer found an odor that gave them probable cause.

Leniency

Judges view marijuana cases in Bethesda with more leniency. The attitude towards marijuana has changed significantly over the last few years in the State of Maryland and judges now treat marijuana cases far less seriously than other drug-related offenses.

Although they are taken less seriously, it is still crucial that an individual consults with a lawyer as soon as they learn of their Bethesda marijuana case. This charge, if convicted, will be on a person’s criminal record, so it is important to obtain legal representation as soon as possible.

Long-Term Implications

When a person is convicted of a marijuana-related offense, they still have a criminal record. However, there is a different perception when someone looks for a person’s criminal record for background checks or other purposes and sees a marijuana charge as opposed to some other offense. The collateral consequences are therefore not likely so serious.

To best understand the legal treatment of a Bethesda marijuana case, it is crucial to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Points of Note

People should know that marijuana possession in Bethesda, although considered less serious and sometimes non-criminal, should not be taken lightly. It is important that people recognize that the same constitutional issues come up as before and the same defenses are available to people that were available to them before.

They should still reach out to an attorney to conduct a full evaluation of the Bethesda marijuana case to ensure that their rights are protected and any penalty the court imposes is avoided if possible.