President Obama while against the legalization of drugs stated that the concept is worthy of debate.
Posts Tagged ‘marijuana’
President Obama Says Legalization of Drugs is Worthy of Debate
Apr
16
Clayton Simms, Criminal Defense Attorney, on the topic of Drugs in Utah
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Don’t Front in Salt Lake City
Apr
09
A Montrose clothing retailer and travel agency were busted for being the store fronts for a much larger business; successful marijuana growing facilities. Five men were arrested in accordance with the bust which consisted of 400 marijuana plants grossing $200,000. Store owners around the busted businesses said they were shocked to hear about the bust but noticed the stores were always closed. If one lesson can be learned from this article it’s that people in Salt Lake shouldn’t put up a front.
Probation Officer Testifies For Marijuana Legalization
Mar
27
Clayton Simms, Criminal Defense Attorney, on the topic of Drugs in Utah
Former probation officer testifies on behalf of marijuana legalization.
Marijuana Use and Utah Criminal Law
Mar
23
Clayton Simms, Criminal Defense Attorney, on the topic of Constitutional Rights, Crimes, Drugs in Utah, Utah Law
Marijuana has been legally cultivated for thousands of years, but in Utah, it’s illegal to grow, use or distribute it. Why is pot illegal while alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, french fries and milk shakes are perfectly acceptable to our state and federal governments? This is a very good question for your historians, politicians and corporate giants, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll stick to discussing the law as it stands.
photo: iTopher
Utah is tough on marijuana users. Possession of less than 1 ounce of grass is a misdemeanor and punishable with up to $1,000 and 6 months in jail. If you’re found with between 1 ounce and 1 pound, you’ll be facing a $2,500 fine and 1 year in jail. Possession of more than 1 pound is a felony and the penalty imposed can be a fine of $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison. If you’re caught with more than 100 pounds, it’s also a felony and offers a sentence of up to 15 years behind bars.
As marijuana has been legal 99% of the time it’s been in use throughout its history, it will likely be legalized again. Naturally, we would never advise that you do anything illegal, even if we don’t agree with a particular law or a law that infringes upon your personal freedoms. However, if you choose to continue on in your illicit relationship with Mary Jane, we plead with you to be smart and at least keep it under an ounce at any given time. In the event you’re arrested for possession of marijuana, you need a Utah criminal attorney to be there to fight for you and your rights.
Thought Provoking Articles on Drug Policy Reform & Trends in Marijuana Legalization
Dec
29
“The Nation” magazine in it’s December 27, 2010 Special Issue: Dare to End the War on Drugs takes on Drug Policy Reform, Federal Sentencing in Drug Cases & the Liberties we have given up in the American War on Drugs. Two of the more interesting and thought provoking articles include:
Altered State: California’s Pot Economy
Despite the defeat of Proposition 19, growers in California are expanding a profitable system for cultivating pot. By Sasha Abramsky
Budding Prospects: Youth Activists Push Marijuana Reform
Fueled by serious funds, young advocates of legalization are poised for big gains.
By Aaron Houston
A ‘Mutiny’ In Marijuana Case
Dec
22
Photo: Alexodus
Before any jury is selected, the judge or attorneys will ask potential jurors questions about their biases. Every defendant deserves a jury that is impartial and will only look at the facts of the case. Jurors are subject to the law and obviously can’t make up laws in the jury room.
However, in Missoula, Montana, some potential jurors took the law into their own hands by refusing to say that they would convict someone for having a 16th of an ounce. It became such a concern that the judge called a recess to talk to the attorneys about the situation. However, during the recess, the prosecutor and defense attorney reached an plea agreement.
The judge said, “I think it’s going to become increasingly difficult to seat a jury in marijuana cases, at least the ones involving a small amount.”
Republicans favor the Legalization of Marijuana (California’s Prop 19): Do Utah Republicans Agree?
Nov
02
As voting for the legalization of Marijuana (Proposition 19 In California) is the forefront of headlines, many voters have the misconception that the Democrats are the liberals in this area but speaker Nancy Pelosi recently withdrew her vote in support of the bill while many Republicans have supported it. Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas), the 2008 presidential hopeful and tea party patron saint, who recently wrote that “decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level would be a start” to ending “the insanity of the War on Drugs.” Do fellow tea party members and Utah Republicans agree with Congressman Ron Paul? Calls to Utah Senator Orrin Hatch’s office were unsuccessful.
However, just because many Republicans have been in support of Prop 19 the misconceptions that “the Obama administration has stopped busting dispensaries” (as noted in a Newsweek piece by Ryan Tracy) is anything but true. So, Utah’s pot smokers shouldn’t hold their breaths, because Marijuana use (medical or recreational) will most likely remain illegal for the foreseeable future. Californians might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (or the bong) thanks in part to Republicans, but it appears that the Obama administration is still busting some California dispensaries pursuant to Federal law.
$250 Off Utah DUI or Possession of Marijuana Coupon for Slightly Stoopid Fans
Jun
24
Jessica, on the topic of Drugs in Utah
Tonight there is a concert in support of legalizing marijuana featuring the band Slightly Stoopid at the Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah. BE CAREFUL at the concert, and obey all Utah laws to keep yourself out of trouble with the law.
Nevertheless, there is some help in Salt Lake City for those who find themselves in legal trouble tonight. The Law Office of Clayton Simms is offering a $250.00 coupon to deduct from your DUI or Possession of
Marijuana legal fees if you have a Slightly Stoopid Concert
ticket.
SLIGHTLY STOOPID IN CONCERT photo: petty.jenn
Slightly Stoopid has always been prominent supporters of legalizing marijuana in the United States. Band member RyMo believes, “People who have never smoked pot have demonized it. If it’s not for you, that’s cool, but people shouldn’t be locked away for carrying a little weed.” (Jordan, The Spokesman-Review)
Do Utahns Agree with Bob Marley That Marijuana Should Be Legal?
Jun
18
Clayton Simms, Criminal Defense Attorney, on the topic of Drugs in Utah
Considering that Utah is such a conservative state, it is almost certain that the majority of Utahns disagree with Bob Marley & the position that marijuana should be decriminalized.
Legal to Drive with THC in your system in Michigan
Jun
10
Jessica, on the topic of Drugs in Utah
photo: qdoublep
A single use of marijuana could leave traces of THC or cannabis metabolites in your body for many weeks (National Institute on Drug Abuse). The state of Michigan is starting a legal trend recognizing that one can have THC in their system and not be smoking marijuana. The Supreme Court of Michigan recently set new precedent in area, ruling that it is not illegal to drive with 11-carboxy-THC in your system. This product that remains in one’s system after the high wears off will no longer be considered a controlled substance in the state of Michigan. This ruling is definitely supported by the Swiss study, cited in the July/August 2005 issue of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, which studying the effects of marijuana on driving skills. Many of the volunteers refused to drive after smoking (even though the experiment was in a closed environment and they would not be penalized for breaking any laws) and the ones that did drive gave other vehicles more room and drove slower, compensating for their possible impairment. Drunk drivers on the other-hand drive more carelessly and viciously when impaired. (Campbell, GreenZone). Perhaps other states like Utah will see such studies and the new precedent set in Michigan and apply more lenient marijuana laws. Either way, the Michigan ruling shows that it is important to have a qualified criminal defense lawyer that can use these new advancements in law to argue for you benefit in cases involving marijuana.
