In Virginia, recreational marijuana has been legalized. It is not a crime to purchase or possess a small amount of marijuana for personal use, as long as you are over 21 years old. There are limits on the amount a person can possess at one time and things of this nature, but marijuana use is legally controlled in a similar fashion to alcohol use.
That said, not all states have made this change. There has been a major push for legalization over the last 10 years, but many states only allow medical use of marijuana or do not allow for the possession and use at all – such as South Carolina. This can make things complicated, and it’s especially important for people to know they can’t cross state lines – on a road trip or a vacation, for example – with marijuana in their possession.
A violation of federal law
The main reason that you can’t cross state lines with marijuana is that it is still federally illegal. If you do cross state lines, it means you are under federal jurisdiction, so you’re still breaking the law – even if you legally purchased marijuana in Virginia.
The next thing to remember is that the other state’s laws take precedence once you cross that border. If you get arrested in a state that doesn’t allow recreational marijuana, saying that you legally purchased the products in Virginia is not going to get you out of the charges. You could still be arrested in a state where marijuana use is completely prohibited.
As drug laws change, it’s very important for people to understand their rights and their legal options if they are facing arrest.
