You were just trying to relax, and smoking marijuana is something you normally do in your home state. You brought some with you to Ohio, and you never thought you’d have to worry about getting caught. Unfortunately, you did, and now you face charges.
In Ohio, the possession, trafficking, sale or cultivation of marijuana is illegal. It has been decriminalized in Ohio, which means most people face only misdemeanors if they’re caught with the drug. Having marijuana in Ohio is not a jailable offense if you have less than 20 grams, but you can face fines and have your driver’s license suspended in some cases.
If you are found with more than 200 grams of marijuana, then you can face a felony charge. If you have more than two grams of liquid concentrates, that’s also enough to have a felony placed against you. In the case that you were caught driving while drugged, you could lose your license for up to three years and go to prison for up to six months.
Ohio does allow for the medical use of marijuana. There are not yet any dispensaries in the state, but those who wish to use medical marijuana can obtain a state-issued identification card that may be used as an affirmative defense in the state. If you have a medical marijuana card from another state, this may be enough to work as a defense for you in Ohio as well.
State laws are changing constantly, but marijuana is still illegal in Ohio. For now, if you’re charged, it’s a good idea to reach out to your attorney to begin defending yourself.
Source: FindLaw, “Ohio Marijuana Laws,” accessed April 21, 2017
