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Transportation
of Marijuana
Needless to say, in every state it is a crime to transport any amount
of marijuana in a vehicle. In California, if you are convicted of transporting
one ounce or less, the fine is $100. However, if you are convicted of
transporting more than one ounce, you can be imprisoned for up to four
years.
Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
In every state, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the
influence of marijuana. If you are caught driving under the influence
of marijuana in California (and you have no prior convictions for driving
under the influence of alcohol or a drug), you face a minimum fine of
approximately $1,000, two days in county jail, and suspension of your
driver's license for up to six months.
Aiding and Abetting a Marijuana Crime
Most states have laws that make anyone who knowingly aids in committing
a crime guilty of that crime. In other words, if you aid in the commission
of a crime, you can be convicted and sentenced for the crime itself. These
laws have been applied in the context of marijuana crimes.
In one Washington case, an undercover police officer asked a man if he
knew where he could get some marijuana. Not realizing he was talking to
an undercover officer, the man replied that his brother had some marijuana
and would sell it for $100 an ounce. The officer told the man that $100
was too high, whereupon the man replied that it was "good pot well
worth the price." The court held that this statement proved that
the man was aiding the sale. Consequently, he was punished just as if
he had sold marijuana. Many courts have upheld convictions based on a
person's arrangement of a meeting between a seller of marijuana and a
buyer. (State v. Wilson [Wash. 1981] 631 P.2d362.)
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