disparity in marijuana arrests along race and socio-economic lines. These disparities have negatively impacted black people, Hispanics, and other oppressed groups. The efforts, however, are not producing immediately successful results. A report from New Frontier Data is showing that even now black and Hispanic suspects are arrested at nine times the rate of suspects who are white, despite the fact that data shows the three subgroups sell cannabis at similar rates.

According to the data, from 1997 to 2016, marijuana arrests made up more than 40 percent of drug-related arrests, totaling 15.7 million. Arrests overall from cannabis-related offenses have declined slightly in recent years, down from their height in 2007. This is likely reflective of states expanding marijuana legalization, though the numbers are not significantly lower than the overall average since 1997. For example, arrests for possession hit a low in 2015 of 575,000, but went up again in 2016 to 588,000, neither of which is much lower than 599,000 way back in 1998. Considering 30 states now allow provisions for medical marijuana and nine, plus Washington, D.C., have recreational laws on the books, these numbers should be improving more drastically over the 20-year-old stats. The data sets delved more deeply into what these arrests meant specifically for black and Hispanic people. A look at New York City is revealing that even the best intentions cannot overcome racial profiling and decades of anti-marijuana propaganda. Mayor Bill De Blasio made a campaign promise to address the inequity in marijuana arrests and convictions in the city. He took office in 2014, giving us data that is more reflective of a time when public perception of marijuana has been more favorable. Yet in spite of the improved climate and a mayor dedicated to change, disparity marched on. Black people in New York from 2011-2013, before De Blasio’s election, accounted for 51 percent of cannabis arrests. From 2014-2017 that percentage drops only slightly to 48.3 percent. During those same time periods, Hispanic people accounted for 34.3 percent and 38 percent of marijuana-related arrests respectively, meaning they actually grew in their share of overall arrests. Furthermore, 2018 isn’t shaping up to be any better, with 4,000 possession arrests in the first four months, 89 percent either being black or Hispanic. The percentage of cannabis arrests attributed to white people, meanwhile, went from 10.6 percent in 2011-2013 to 9 percent in 2014-2017.

Our Orange County marijuana arrest lawyers will be interested to see if New York will see broader changes now that the mayor is working on a path to legalization for the city and is planning to direct police not to arrest people for public consumption. In the meantime, the data acts as a cautionary tale that public opinion and good intentions are not enough to protect the people most affected by the bunk “War on Drugs.”

Practical marijuana laws need to be on the books, if not federally than at least similar to those here in California. Proposition 64 is designed to not only reduce cannabis-related arrests, but undo some of the damage done in the past. Even as such, recent data from the state attorney general shows Hispanic and black Californians are disproportionately being arrested, but because overall felony arrests have dropped by 74 percent from 2016 to 2017 after recreational legalization, a huge burden has been lifted from those communities. The law also allows for those with past marijuana convictions to petition to have their case reviewed, with most misdemeanors being erased completely and some higher level crimes being reduced depending on severity. Many cities are even doing the leg work on their own to review the records and set things straight for Californians. Our legal team is here to defend Southern Californians who find themselves in cannabis-related legal trouble, but we hope to see continued decriminalization efforts across the state and nation.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

National Arrests for Cannabis-Related Offenses 1996-2016, July 8, 2018, New Frontier Data

More Blog Entries:

Marijuana Possession Arrests Up in NYC, Despite Decriminalization, June 14, 2016, Cannabis Law Group

combined to reach a new fever pitch, with border patrol reportedly enforcing wildly audacious rules and ruining lives in the process. U.S. border guards have allegedly started turning away Canadian citizens entering the U.S. if it is revealed that they work in the cannabis industry, regardless of whether or not they are in compliance with Canada’s laws or even if their business deals directly with the drug or not, according to The Vancouver Star. Involvement in the cannabis industry means you are profiting from illicit drug trading, in the eyes of U.S. border patrol, an offense that can get you banned from entering the U.S. for life. Once you’re on the list, you never fall off, and admittance into the country would require the help of an immigration attorney and special temporary waivers. Even admitting to ever using cannabis has reportedly led to Canadians being turned away at the border.

Americans, too, are facing problems at the border. Some are crossing into Canada to take advantage of their legalized medical marijuana and will soon be flocking there to experience federally legalized recreational marijuana, beginning Oct. 17. If they attempt to bring any marijuana with them back into the U.S., however, they could be facing charges for possession or drug smuggling along with fines and/or jail time.

As our cannabis criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles can explain, many are confused by the way the current marijuana laws work. If they legally purchased marijuana in Canada and they are crossing into a state, like Washington, where cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use, why then would they be in trouble at the border? Even more confounding, why would a Canadian who has never used marijuana a day in his or her life, but whose company creates products that are used by cannabis businesses, be banned from the U.S. for life?

For the answer, one needs to look no further than Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his militant and radical stance on marijuana. He has made it no secret that he is a believer in anti-marijuana propaganda and will use the extent of his power in the Justice Department to enforce the federal ban under Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812. His plans have been thwarted in many ways, with more states legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. Congress, too, has passed measures to protect those states, including the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, an add-on to the federal budget preventing DOJ from using funds to prosecute medical marijuana operations in states where it is legal. Instead of getting with the times, looking at the undeniable mountain of evidence in favor of marijuana legalization, and re-examining federal law, Sessions has chosen to double down on enforcement anywhere he still has power. This, unfortunately, has included border security, and many Canadians and Americans are paying the price.

Our legal team stands by the millions of Americans who find the hostile anti-cannabis agenda of the Justice Department and border patrol to be out of line. The entire country is trending toward a better understanding of cannabis and its benefits. We know the War on Drugs and the aggressive targeting of marijuana users has done nothing but hurt our country. It’s time this administration catch up with the rest of us before any more lives are destroyed.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

When Marijuana is Legal in Canada, Americans are Expected to Flock, But the Border, and U.S. Law, Stands in the Way, July 11, 2018, By Lornet Turnbull and Katie Zezima, Washington Post

More Blog Entries:

Report: Legal Medical Pot User in Canada Denied U.S. Access for Life, Sept. 25, 2016, Cannabis Law Group

legalization: from health organizations and doctors to veterans, cancer patients, and NFL players. Support crosses age groups, socio-economic status, race, and gender. A recent report from High Times, however, revealed some groups who do not support marijuana legalization, and it paints an interesting picture of those who have profited most off of the criminalization of this relatively benign drug.

Several of the groups on the list are, no surprise, involved in the arrest and incarceration of marijuana users. Law enforcement officials, for example, have received a great deal of funding over the years that was earmarked for the barbaric and misguided “War on Drugs.” Despite much more dangerous and lethal street drugs, marijuana users have always been a favorite target. It’s no wonder, considering the docile effect cannabis can often have on users, as opposed to the aggressive, violent, and hyperactive responses other drugs can induce. Marijuana has allowed police officers the ability to go after low-hanging fruit, pull in big numbers, and still get paid the same. Many police stations have also benefitted greatly from asset forfeiture programs, in which they line their budgets with money made off of auctioning seized property in marijuana raids. It’s not like there would even be a lack of work to be done. Without marijuana, officers will have to focus their time and resources on more risky areas, such as meth labs and opioid rings, which will be far more challenging.From there, for-profit prisons and prison guards have much to gain from criminalization. Not only will there be fewer marijuana-related prosecutions and jail time, but states like California have opened up the opportunity for people to petition to have their charges reduced or expunged. Some cities are even automatically reviewing cases and making adjustments based on new laws on the behalf of those with relevant criminal records. That means some prisons could be losing inmates, i.e. their bread and butter. Data indicates prisons across the country could be losing up to $2 billion as a result of marijuana legalization. The lives of marijuana users are worth much more to them behind bars. This is one of the many reasons it is so important to seek the counsel of one of our marijuana criminal defense attorneys in Orange County to make sure someone is advocating for your rights.

Two other industries also stand to lose a significant amount of profit from marijuana legalization, but not because of the War on Drugs. On the contrary, pharmaceutical drug manufacturers feel very threatened by cannabis, which is fairly cheap and easy to produce. Many states even allow medical marijuana patients and/or their caregivers to grow their own plants, making it difficult for big pharma to figure out how to capitalize. Still there is plenty of room for companies to join to club. For example, FDA recently approved a liquid CBD-based drug specifically formulated for treating childhood seizures. There are numerous opportunities to harness the power of cannabis in ways that could help patients and break them from their dependency on far more dangerous drugs, like opioids.

The forestry industry also feels the heat from cannabis or, more specifically, hemp. Hemp is an excellent resource for creating paper, and it reproduces much quicker than trees. There’s no stopping the hemp industry now, though, especially with a recent push from the Senate to legalize this particular variety of cannabis. It would be wise for forestry workers, and all the other industries mentioned here, to rethink their models and embrace a future of cannabis legalization.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

About Six-in-Ten Americans Support Marijuana Legalization, Jan. 5, 2018, Pew Research Center

More Blog Entries:

Senate Plants Seed for Hemp Legalization, June 30, 2018, Marijuana Lawyer Blog

police departments who allegedly are targeting businesses while transporting cannabis and seizing their delivery and cash. North Coast Journal conducted an investigation of these cases and found a pattern of confiscations over the past three years without any charges ever being filed against the drivers. Each of the incidents allegedly occurred during traffic stops with local police officers, and some said they were not even in the jurisdiction of that department when the stops were made.

It is not unusual that officers would share duties with other departments near major highways, like Highway 101, to patrol those long stretches of road. It’s not even unusual that they would be intercepting illegal drug transports, as the department in question was part of joint efforts to go after cocaine, meth, opioids, ecstasy, and methamphetamines. Also on the list of targeted drugs, though, was marijuana, and drivers alleged officers showed no interest in whether or not drivers were in compliance with state and local laws. One driver described a briefcase full of all necessary paperwork he carried on his route in case he was pulled over, but it allegedly did not protect him, and the contents of his vehicle were confiscated.This is one of the many ways the gray area between state marijuana legalization and the federal ban really hurts residents. Police can still monitor cannabis activity under the premise that they are searching for illegal behavior at the state level, such as unlicensed businesses or transporting between states. Then, should they choose, police might still cite Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812, which classifies cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic. Or, as these drivers claim, police could simply never file a charge so you don’t get your day in court. The uncertainty of the rights of business owners in the face of federal law has left them vulnerable to unfair police practices.

Cracking down on drug trafficking has its perks, including the ability of the local police departments and the district attorney to seize a cut of money confiscated during suspected crimes, a process known as civil asset forfeiture. Add in the fact that police know legitimate marijuana business owners are transporting sizable amounts of cannabis to delivery points, as well as cash, due to the fact that federal restrictions of marijuana make it impossible to use traditional banking, and you have a recipe for potential corruption.

State and local laws surrounding marijuana were created specifically to protect those who chose to establish cannabis businesses in California. That’s why it’s essential you call on the experience of our skilled Los Angeles cannabis criminal defense lawyers should you find yourself in a run-in with police. It’s completely understandable that you would be confused facing up against law enforcement officers who are claiming you are in the wrong even when you have done your compliance due diligence. With a trusted cannabis attorney on your side, you will have a legal team with a tested understanding of all marijuana laws who will act as a strong advocate for you and your rights.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

How Cops Could Cash in on Legal Weed in California, Dec. 18, 2017, By Max Rivlin-Nadler, Vice

More Blog Entries:

Licensed Cannabis Business Drivers Arrested, Van Confiscated, Jan. 17, 2018, Cannabis Law Group

two decades, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2018, is ushering in a new era with the legalization of recreational cannabis in California.

But our legal team knows it also can be a very scary and confusing time. Some officials are seeking to make the transition as easy as possible to encourage cannabis businesses to become public and legal. While others seem to be looking for reasons to crack down on businesses and exploit clashing laws.

Such is the case in northern California’s Mendocino County, where in late December two delivery workers were arrested, and their van and its contents, roughly a ton of marijuana, was confiscated.It is clear from this case that the employees, and the company they worked for, had made every effort to be in compliance with relevant marijuana laws. In fact there is even disagreement among officials if the company was in violation of any local or state ordinances. Still, the two were cited for unlawful possession of marijuana for sale and unlawful transportation.

There is a real concern the marijuana in the van, which accounts for an entire year’s crop for a local family farm, could be destroyed, ruining the livelihood for many involved as well as harming those counting on the delivery of the product.

Our Los Angeles cannabis business attorneys are appalled by this action and concerned for the tone it will set as we continue to iron out legalization efforts in the state. We specialize in defending clients against all criminal marijuana offenses, including possession for sale and transportation. But we also will help you review your business plans ahead of time to make sure you are following all state and local laws, solidifying your defense should you have a run in with authorities.

In the case at hand, the employees had with them a county license, which the company had been granted the week before, permitting it to transport within the county. California Highway Patrol said that wasn’t enough, claiming they also needed a state permit, and that those permits wouldn’t have been valid until Jan. 1.

A county spokesperson backed the company, stating the distribution license made them in compliance.

The highway patrol said that the van (which was unmarked) was not pulled over in an attempt to target the company, but over a traffic violation, claiming safety is their primary goal and they are always on the lookout for signs that a driver could be under the influence.

Still, as businesses try to figure out an array of complicated regulations that have been put in place in the past year, such incidents do not inspire confidence. Not only does the state have its own set of rules, but cities and counties were given the power to create their own guidelines or choose to ban activity altogether. This is all on top of the constant fear that the federal government will turn its focus on rolling back state legalization efforts.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

California Company has Pot License, Workers Still Arrested, Dec. 27, 2017, By Michael Balsamo and Don Thompson, Associated Press

More Blog Entries:

California Marijuana Company Prevails After Police Raid, July 12, 2016, Los Angeles Cannabis Attorney Blog

The Public Information Campaign State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith reports to the Los Angeles Times that the goal of this campaign – largely centered around the Department’s “Let’s Talk Cannabis” website – is to provide Californians with scientific evidence in order to ensure safe and informed decisions are made about marijuana use. For example: one major focus of the campaign is to highlight the fact that marijuana use is illegal for persons under twenty-one years of age. The campaign supplements this simple legal fact with the scientific reasons for its existence: namely, marijuana use in the late teens and early twenties can lead to physical changes in the brain, which are found less frequently in older users. The campaign also warns that edible cannabis products often have a higher concentration of THC than other forms of cannabis, which can make users more susceptible to poisoning. In fact, California legislators are so concerned about accidental poisoning from edible cannabis products that a bill has been introduced to prohibit sales of edible cannabis products in the shape of a person, animal, insect or fruit. This bill is aimed at preventing children from ingesting cannabis products which look like candy. This proposal comes after scientific evidence from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that cases of a child being accidentally poisoned by edible cannabis products in one Colorado healthcare facility increased more than five times between 2009 (before legalization) and 2015 (after legalization). While these cases were only reported from one hospital facility, the entire state saw a greater increase in unintentional exposure cases than the rest of the country. For these reasons, the Department recommends that users keep marijuana securely out of reach of children or pets. One slightly more controversial aspect of the campaign is its focus on the risks to pregnant women. The Department advises women not to use cannabis for nausea, or if they are even thinking about becoming pregnant. One activist told the Los Angeles Times that the statements of risks to pregnant women “somewhat overstated”. Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should research these risks and carefully review the findings with their obstetricians. Seek a second opinion as necessary. Of course, there are other risks to marijuana use as well, and users should not ignore them. Impaired driving is not only highly dangerous, but it can also lead to a costly – and time consuming – DUI charge. California, like other states, has not set a legal blood limit for marijuana at which impairment may be inferred. This is because – unlike alcohol – scientists have not yet been able to determine a set, definite blood level which applies broadly to humans. For marijuana users, this means that a DUI can be prosecuted at the discretion of an officer or district attorney, regardless of the results of a blood test. It is always better to err on the side of caution when deciding whether or not to drive. An experienced Orange County DUI-marijuana defense lawyer can help protect your rights throughout the process of any criminal charges. The Los Angeles Cannabis Law Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734. Additional Resources: California is trying to educate people about marijuana before recreational sales start, September 27, 2017 by Patrick McGreevey, the Los Angeles Times More Blog Entries: Increase in Accidental Marijuana Poisonings Lead California to Propose Bans on Edible Candies, September 25, 2017, by Cannabis Law Group