southern california defense lawyers

The Unites States Justice Department released a memo recently stating that it would not be a good use of federal prosecutors’ time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law. The guidelines, however, do make it clear that federal agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medical marijuana as a cover for other crimes.

California’s medical marijuana laws allow for the distribution and use of small amounts of medical marijuana prescribed to chronically ill patients through a medical professional. The prescribed marijuana can be picked up at local dispensaries, just like you would pick up a prescription at a pharmacy.

What does this mean for San Diego? Well, the San Diego City Councill has made a concerted effort to slow down and effectively eliminate new dispensaries in San Diego County, citing conflicts with federal law as a main issue. The new federal guidelines should help the City Council in its ultimate decision and make it easier for chronically ill patients to get the prescriptions they need.

If you or someone in your family has been charged with possession of medically prescribed marijuana, it is important that you hire an experienced San Diego criminal defense attorney. The attorneys at Wallin and Klarich have over 30 years of experience in dealing with both state and federal drug charges. Our attorneys are very familiar with California state controlled substance laws and a good track record in the federal court system. Our attorneys can be reached by phone at 1-877-230-1529 or through our website at www.wklaw.com.