Legal troubles await those who bring marijuana into PA
About a 25-minute drive from the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, two recreational marijuana dispensaries were among nearly 100 that opened Tuesday in Ohio.
But Pennsylvanians who cross state lines to pick up some pot could find themselves in legal hot water.
无毛视频淛ust because other states have legalized recreational marijuana doesn无毛视频檛 make it legal in Pennsylvania,无毛视频� warned Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh.
Ohio joined four other states bordering Pennsylvania (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and New York) that allow the sale of recreational marijuana to adults. When sales started Tuesday, 98 dispensaries 无毛视频� including Sunnyside and Ohio Valley Natural Relief 无毛视频� opened. The two Wintersville dispensaries are dual-use, meaning they offer both medicinal and recreational marijuana.
At Sunnyside, customers lined up nearly three hours before the business opened.
Among those in line were residents of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. Pennsylvania and West Virginia have medical programs, though recreational marijuana remains illegal. It is also federally illegal to carry cannabis across state lines.
Individuals in line, who declined to be identified, commented on how recreational sales in Ohio have been long-anticipated, and some noted that adult-use is bound to come next in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, based on Ohio无毛视频檚 precedent.
In a February budget address, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called on lawmakers to 无毛视频渃atch up无毛视频� with neighboring states.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e losing out to an industry that, once fully implemented, would bring in more than $250 million in annual revenue,无毛视频� Shapiro said at the time. 无毛视频淥ur failure to legalize and regulate this only fuels the black market and drains much-needed resources for law enforcement.无毛视频�
Several lawmakers in the state have tried to pass measures to legalize recreational marijuana, but those bills have gone nowhere. A 2023 bill proposed imposing an 8% sales tax to consumers and 5% excise tax on dispensaries. It remains in committee.
Those who possess marijuana that is not medically prescribed in Pennsylvania can face serious criminal charges depending upon the amount. Those who have 30 grams (a little over 1 ounce) or less would face a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
无毛视频淚f you have a pound of marijuana on you, it无毛视频檚 going to be hard for someone to say, 无毛视频極h that无毛视频檚 for me,'无毛视频� said Tom Kolencik, the public information officer for Uniontown police. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 obvious that you无毛视频檙e selling it and then that turns into possession with intent to deliver, which is a felony.无毛视频�
Medical users can also find themselves in a tricky situation if they incorrectly transport the drug.
无毛视频淭he problem we run into with medical marijuana is that people are putting it in baggies or something like that,无毛视频� Kolencik said. 无毛视频淵ou need to keep (it in) the bottle that it无毛视频檚 prescribed to you with your name on it and has the prescription number.无毛视频�
On Tuesday, those in line at Sunnyside brought up another oft-asked question: How will marijuana sales affect the rate of those charged with driving under the influence?
Because marijuana remains illegal on the federal level, unlike alcohol, there is no legal limit for the drug in a person无毛视频檚 system.
Walsh noted that many of the criminal offenses related to medical marijuana come from those who drive, even if they are not high when they are behind the wheel.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 still illegal in the state of Pennsylvania to drive a vehicle with marijuana in your system,无毛视频� Walsh said. 无毛视频淧eople don无毛视频檛 realize that they can still get a DUI, or if they无毛视频檙e in an accident, they will still be charged with an appropriate crime.无毛视频�
Reporting in Ohio was done by Christopher Dacanay of the 无毛视频-Star in Steubenville.