Showing posts with label weed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weed. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Michigan Medical Marihuana - People v Nicholson - MMMA Cardholders - Patients and Caregivers - Criminal Defense Lawyer, Josh Jones


A short yet important topic that impacts Michigan Medical Marijuana patients and caregivers revolves around medical marijuana cards and paperwork. The Court of Appeals indicated that patients and caregivers must have their paper or medical marijuana card on them in order to receive protection under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA). See People v Nicholson.

The facts of the case, in Nicholson, indicated that the defendant was a passenger in a vehicle and was holding one ounce of marijuana. The defendant had applied for his medical marijuana card, yet he had not received actually it. Moreover, the paperwork that indicating he was authorization to use medical marijuana was in his own vehicle, which they were not driving at the time of the arrest.

The court inevitably concluded that immunity would not be granted to the defendant because he did not have his paperwork accessible to him at the time of arrest. However, the court went on to indicate that the defendant is immune from prosecution because he does possess his card prior to the time of prosecution. The court inevitably remanded the case back to the circuit court for further investigation into whether the activities on the date of arrest involved the medical use of marijuana.

Therefore, the issue, in Nicholson, came down to whether he had his card/paperwork prior to prosecution and whether his actions that lead to his arrest qualify as medical use as indicated in the MMMA. It should be noted that the defendant was arrested because he did not have his paperwork on him, which any medical marijuana patient and/or caregiver should take note of. You should ALWAYS carry your paperwork or card, even if you are not holding.

PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THESE LEGAL OPINIONS AND OBSERVATIONS WHEN REPRESENTING YOURSELF IN COURT. THESE ARTICLES ARE NOT MEANT TO COMPENSATE OR EFFECUATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION. YOU SHOULD AND MUST CONTACT AN ATTORNEY AND DISCUSS WITH HIM OR HER THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY AND ALL IDEAS, STATEMENTS, OPINIONS, EXPRESSIONS OR OTHERWISE STATED ON THIS SITE. WE HOPE TO SPEAK WITH YOU SOON. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Possession of Marijuana - 7411 & Diversion - Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney Josh Jones


MCLA 333.7411 POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
PUBLIC HEALTH CODE (EXCERPT) 
Act 368 of 1978
333.7411 Probation of individual with no previous conviction; entering adjudication of guilt upon violation of probation; discharge and dismissal without adjudication of guilt; nonpublic record of arrest and discharge and dismissal; effect of civil fine for first violation; requiring individual to attend course of instruction or rehabilitation program; failure to complete instruction or program as violation of probation; screening and assessment; participation in rehabilitative programs; payment of costs; failure to complete program as violation of probation.
(1) When an individual who has not previously been convicted of an offense under this article or under any statute of the United States or of any state relating to narcotic drugs, coca leaves, marihuana, or stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic drugs, pleads guilty to or is found guilty of possession of a controlled substance under section 7403(2)(a)(v), 7403(2)(b), (c), or (d), or of use of a controlled substance under section 7404, or possession or use of an imitation controlled substance under section 7341 for a second time, the court, without entering a judgment of guilt with the consent of the accused, may defer further proceedings and place the individual on probation upon terms and conditions that shall include, but are not limited to, payment of a probation supervision fee as prescribed in section 3c of chapter XI of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 771.3c. The terms and conditions of probation may include participation in a drug treatment court under chapter 10A of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.1060 to 600.1082. Upon violation of a term or condition, the court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided. Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions, the court shall discharge the individual and dismiss the proceedings. Discharge and dismissal under this section shall be without adjudication of guilt and, except as provided in subsection (2)(b), is not a conviction for purposes of this section or for purposes of disqualifications or disabilities imposed by law upon conviction of a crime, including the additional penalties imposed for second or subsequent convictions under section 7413. There may be only 1 discharge and dismissal under this section as to an individual.
(2) The records and identifications division of the department of state police shall retain a nonpublic record of an arrest and discharge or dismissal under this section. This record shall be furnished to any or all of the following:
(a) To a court, police agency, or office of a prosecuting attorney upon request for the purpose of showing that a defendant in a criminal action involving the possession or use of a controlled substance, or an imitation controlled substance as defined in section 7341, covered in this article has already once utilized this section.
(b) To a court, police agency, or prosecutor upon request for the purpose of determining whether the defendant in a criminal action is eligible for discharge and dismissal of proceedings by a drug treatment court under section 1076(4) of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.1076.
(c) To the state department of corrections, a law enforcement agency, a court, or the office of a prosecuting attorney upon request of the department, law enforcement agency, court, or office of a prosecuting attorney, subject to all of the following conditions:
(i) At the time of the request, the individual is an employee of the department, law enforcement agency, court, or office of prosecuting attorney or an applicant for employment with the department, law enforcement agency, court, or office of prosecuting attorney.
(ii) If the individual is an employee of the department, law enforcement agency, court, or prosecuting attorney, the date on which the court placed the individual on probation occurred after March 25, 2002.
(iii) The record shall be used by the department of corrections, law enforcement agency, court, or prosecuting attorney only to determine whether an employee has violated his or her conditions of employment or whether an applicant meets criteria for employment.
(3) For purposes of this section, a person subjected to a civil fine for a first violation of section 7341(4) shall not be considered to have previously been convicted of an offense under this article.
(4) Except as provided in subsection (5), if an individual is convicted of a violation of this article, other than a violation of section 7401(2)(a)(i) to (iv) or section 7403(2)(a)(i) to (iv), the court as part of the sentence, during the period of confinement or the period of probation, or both, may require the individual to attend a course of instruction or rehabilitation program approved by the department on the medical, psychological, and social effects of the misuse of drugs. The court may order the individual to pay a fee, as approved by the director, for the instruction or program. Failure to complete the instruction or program shall be considered a violation of the terms of probation.
(5) If an individual is convicted of a second violation of section 7341(4), before imposing sentence under subsection (1), the court shall order the person to undergo screening and assessment by a person or agency designated by the office of substance abuse services, to determine whether the person is likely to benefit from rehabilitative services, including alcohol or drug education and alcohol or drug treatment programs. As part of the sentence imposed under subsection (1), the court may order the person to participate in and successfully complete 1 or more appropriate rehabilitative programs. The person shall pay for the costs of the screening, assessment, and rehabilitative services. Failure to complete a program shall be considered a violation of the terms of the probation.
PLEASE DO NOT RELY upon any of the information contained in this article when trying to represent yourself. You should always consult with an attorney before relying upon any written advice, article, blog etc.