It has been over half a year since Colorado legalized marijuana usage for recreational purposes. Yet, the federal government is still struggling to take up a stance on whether marijuana legalization in some states would be allowed, or how it should be handled by the federal government if states do pass measures toward legalization, as Colorado did.
The lack of an official federal stance on the marijuana laws in Colorado can cause confusion for many people. Each month that goes by, more and more vague responses come from the federal government.
When a person uses a drug that is legal to a certain amount in a state, but prohibited under federal law, could they be arrested? Could this lead to unfair treatment of some people, but not others? These are questions that are going to be worked out and might be clarified at some point in the future.
If someone is arrested for any drug crime in Denver or elsewhere in Colorado, they might be wise to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney. If they are arrested for a marijuana related drug crime in Colorado, their case might be more complex than in the past because of the unknown federal stance.
It might be unfair for some individuals to be prosecuted for a marijuana drug crime, but not others because of this confusion caused by the differences in state and federal laws. An attorney can help an individual form a rigorous criminal defense, to help clear their name and reputation of wrongdoing.
Source: Associated Press, “Marijuana’s march toward mainstream confounds feds,” July 2, 2013