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Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

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Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#41

Post by bstpierre »

Houshalter wrote: post #18
mikestew wrote: post #5

As already pointed out in another comment, don't volunteer that you have pot on you. At least make 'em work for it. Oh, you were thinking they were going to go easier on you? It doesn't work that way. On the one hand, yes, current marijuana laws in most states and at the federal level are ridiculous and unproductive. On the other hand, as a Washington resident what do you think I left at home on a recent motorcycle t…

Can you get in trouble for lying to a police officer?

Not saying anything is better than lying -- whatever you do say, truthful or not, can get twisted around and used against you.

"I respectfully decline to answer your questions."

"I prefer not to answer."

Also, I have to wonder if the guy was under the influence at the time if he handled his wallet in a way that showed the officer the marijuana card. (Or are they bright orange or something?)

Hand over just your license, registration, and insurance. Keep your wallet in your pocket.

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#43

Post by optimusclimb »

deciplex wrote: post #21

>James Siebe, a lawyer in Coeur d’Alene, put it another way: “Come on vacation, leave on probation.” Who the hell is going to Idaho for a vacation aside from neo-Nazis.

Former Governor Schwarzenegger for one

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Idaho-town-is-favorite-Sc...

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#44

Post by bronbron »

jeffdavis wrote: post #38

The US Constitution makes states almost like countries. For those who don't know, laws are different, sometimes in major ways, when you cross a state line. And that's just fine. A big problem in politics is trying to push 300M people to all follow the same set of laws. That's how we ended up with illegal marijuana in the first place. Vote for what you believe in in your state, and leave the rest alone. Singapore does…

> For those who don't know, laws are different, sometimes in major ways, when you cross a state line

That seems like a recipe for a huge disaster that we should rectify.

It's incredibly easy to cross state lines without purposely intending to, especially in the northeast (e.g. you can easily be ushered into NJ trying to get to upstate NY through NYC). It's exactly why 'safe passage' laws exist, even if it doesn't apply in these two scenarios.

It's not as though there's a customs check point at interstate boundaries where you are urged to dispose of materials that might cause you to be in violation of another state's laws.

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#45

Post by throwaway1230 »

bstpierre wrote: post #41
Houshalter wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you get in trouble for lying to a police officer?

Not saying anything is better than lying -- whatever you do say, truthful or not, can get twisted around and used against you. "I respectfully decline to answer your questions." "I prefer not to answer." Also, I have to wonder if the guy was under the influence at the time if he handled his wallet in a way that showed the officer the marijuana card . (Or are they bright orange or something?) Hand over just your licen…

The official document is a piece of paper. Most people carry 'cards' which are provided by individual dispensaries after you show them the official document upon your first visit, and are only valid for entry of the providing dispensary. The cards all look different, some are subtle, some not.

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#46

Post by throwaway1230 »

mbarrett wrote: post #16

Even if the cop sees the card, is it probable cause for a search? Comparing it to gun laws and interstate travel, a gun permit seen in a wallet probably wouldn't lead to a search if the driver simply said there is no gun in the vehicle. Pot seems like it would be under more scrutiny in a red state than guns sadly.

Does possession of a document merit "probable cause" that you used it for its purpose that very day?

I'm not a lawyer and this isn't legal advice.

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#47

Post by grecy »

jeffdavis wrote: post #38

The US Constitution makes states almost like countries. For those who don't know, laws are different, sometimes in major ways, when you cross a state line. And that's just fine. A big problem in politics is trying to push 300M people to all follow the same set of laws. That's how we ended up with illegal marijuana in the first place. Vote for what you believe in in your state, and leave the rest alone. Singapore does…

>Singapore doesn't nees the same drug laws as California. Mississippi doesn't need the same minimum wage as Massachusetts.

You call that "united"?

We were just talking about why that approach sucks here in Canada for health care. The cost of health care is paid for by the province (state) you live in. Once you're not in that province for 3 months, they won't pay for it, so you have to register in the new province.

That's fine if you've moving province to province, but what happens when you leave the country for > 3 months? You have no health care, and you won't have any till you've been back for more than 3 months.

Compare that to Australia, where Health Care is federal, and you always have it, end of discussion. I haven't been there for 8 years, I could fly back tomorrow and get full coverage.

Apply this to 10 thousand other nuances like education, driving licenses, etc. etc. and even little things become a pain in the ass - i.e. My car has a crack in the windshield which is perfectly legal and insured in state X, but as soon as I drive in to state Y I'm breaking some law... uh. Life is too short for crap like that, make stupid rules and certificates and permits and approvals all transparent so day-to-day I don't have to know or think about them.

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#48

Post by tjohns »

bronbron wrote: post #44
jeffdavis wrote: post #38

The US Constitution makes states almost like countries. For those who don't know, laws are different, sometimes in major ways, when you cross a state line. And that's just fine. A big problem in politics is trying to push 300M people to all follow the same set of laws. That's how we ended up with illegal marijuana in the first place. Vote for what you believe in in your state, and leave the rest alone. Singapore does…

> For those who don't know, laws are different, sometimes in major ways, when you cross a state line That seems like a recipe for a huge disaster that we should rectify. It's incredibly easy to cross state lines without purposely intending to, especially in the northeast (e.g. you can easily be ushered into NJ trying to get to upstate NY through NYC). It's exactly why 'safe passage' laws exist, even if it doesn't app…

Actually, California has precisely that. Shortly after driving across the California border, you'll usually find an agricultural checkpoint or "Border Protection Station".

Their focus is mainly on agricultural products, but they're there to get you to dispose of (plant/animal-based) materials that violate CA law.

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pe/ExteriorExclusion/borders.ht...

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#49

Post by GauntletWizard »

themartorana wrote: post #4

Marijuana laws are much like gun laws - you live in the US, but legal activity in one place is a felony worthy of decades in prison a few miles away - in the same country. It's mind-numbing that a citizen of the US would have to know 50 sets of laws just to travel around their own country.

You live in the EU, but legal activity in one place is a felony worthy of decades in prison a few miles away - in the same political union. It's mind numbing that a citizen of the EU would have to know 26 sets of laws just to travel around the Schengen Area.

"States" in the American sense have nearly all of the powers and differences that "Countries" have in europe. Each one is as large as a european country, and nearly as socially diverse. The only difference is that we've long since figured out the whole Unified Currency and Freedom of Travel thing, while it's still a morass of bickering in Europe.

Re: Marijuana Law Mayhem Splits U.S. In Two as Travelers Get Busted

#50

Post by Nogwater »

jeffdavis wrote: post #38

The US Constitution makes states almost like countries. For those who don't know, laws are different, sometimes in major ways, when you cross a state line. And that's just fine. A big problem in politics is trying to push 300M people to all follow the same set of laws. That's how we ended up with illegal marijuana in the first place. Vote for what you believe in in your state, and leave the rest alone. Singapore does…

Why is it a problem to have 300 million people follow the same set of laws, but it's okay to have 38 million people with the same laws? Or maybe California is too big to be a viable state too? Maybe 6 million is the right magic number, and that's why Singapore is still okay? Or maybe 3 million would be better (like Mississippi.)? Then again, the founding fathers knew best (right?) and the largest colony/state at that time was well under a million, so maybe that's the right size?
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