Can Smoking “Legal” Pot In Colorado Get You In Trouble In Florida?

Posted on Aug 20th 2018

Traveling can be a great way to mix things up and do things you normally can’t do at home.  And if you’re traveling through states such as California or Colorado, you might be tempted by the availability of legal recreational marijuana, available for the asking to any adult with a credit card.

But before you indulge, you might want to think twice. Here’s why.

Recreational Marijuana Is Still Illegal In Florida

While recreational marijuana use may be legal in California and Colorado, it is still illegal in Florida — and according to federal law as well.  So getting caught in Florida with pot in your system (regardless of where it was originally consumed) can get you into serious legal trouble.

This is especially true if you’ve already had a brush with the legal system. For example, say you’re on probation and travel to Colorado for a short vacation. While there, you sample a pot brownie—after all, it’s right there in a bakery display case, and everyone’s buying them, so what’s the harm?

You come home to Florida a few days later and take your mandatory monthly drug test. You don’t feel impaired at all, but the pot still shows up in your system. This wasn’t an issue in Colorado, but it’s now putting you in violation of Florida law.  Unless you have a legitimate prescription for medical marijuana, testing dirty for pot constitutes unlawful drug use in Florida — and this can result in your probation being revoked.

What Should You Do If You’re In Legal Trouble?

Depending on your specific circumstances, a knowledgeable defense attorney can raise your odds of getting through this in one piece. But as this shows, navigating drug laws can be tricky, especially with the wide variation in marijuana regulation across the country. That’s why you need to exercise caution, even in jurisdictions where pot is legal.

This is also why it’s important to have an experienced drug crimes attorney like Adam Stout at your side if you run into trouble.  If you find yourself in hot water, don’t wait — you need qualified help NOW. Call Adam Stout to ensure you and your rights are protected and you get the solid defense and respect you deserve.