i was arrested for possession of marijuana less than one ounce. I live in a suburb in Atlanta, GA and had i been two miles in the unincorporated fulton county (run by fulton county pd), i would have gotten a ticket at most. That's b/c the fulton co jail is so overpoplulated with rapists and murderers and drug dealers that the don't want to put i first time misdemeanor vilolater there. However, in the city tht i got arrested in, the pigs have nothing better to do. So i went to court a month and a half later: tell me what you think of this: 1 year probation Court fee: $500 Probation fee: $130 per month for 6 months 28 hours comm service DUI course (even though i wasn't charged w/ dui) = $280, 8 hours a day for three days 500 word paper 30 days suspended license Has ANYONE ever heard of someone getting punished worse than this for 2 grams or less??? I was 21 at the time i got arrested and it was my first offense. They havn't drug tested me yet at probation but i havn't done illegal drugs since the day i got arrested. done like 1/3 of my probation
All i can say is wow. You should check out The laws on possestion of marijuana in your state, i did some looking and i found this website http://www.goplobby.org/laws.html It says probation is mandatory for anything under an ounce but thats about it. It seems like they reamed you in the ass over this one. I feel for you man.
it's not at all bullshit. I was in my car in a parking lot and a cop drove in and saw my car and went up to me and told me he smelled "dope". i was on private property and i hear they can't get you legally at private property which apparently ain't true. He asked me if i had anything illegal and i was honest with him and said i had a couple grams and he arrested me for it! my bail money was $2500 and i used a bail bondsman and payd $300. I spent 3 days in jail.
christ, thats sum shit dude... and unfair, why in the hell do u have to attend a DUI course!!! ah, damn pigs!
This is from NORML.org, these are the laws and pushiments for possession in the state of GA. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?wtm_view=&Group_ID=4531 Possession Less than 1 oz (first offense) misdemeanor probation* none Less than 1 oz (subsequent offense) misdemeanor 1 year $1,000 1 oz or more felony 1 - 10 years variable Within 1,000 feet of school, or other specifed areas (first offense) felony 20 years $20,000 Within 1,000 feet of school, or other specifed areas (subsequent offense) felony 5 years MMS** $40,000 Use of communication equipment felony 1 - 4 years*** $30,000 *Charge dismissed upon completion of probation. **Mandatory minimum sentence. ***This sentence runs consecutive to other sentences.
Thank you for trying to help. The problem with NORML is that the crimes and the punishment are innacurate most of the time. No, i'm positive that that is what i got. When it says no prison time, that does not mean that they can't take you to jail, even if it's your first offense. What it means is that when you go to court and it's your first offense, probation is available w/o having to spend time in jail. NORML is not correct more and more for other states, like nevada. In nevada, one seed or the littlest amount of bud is a FELONY, and according to NORML if you're 21 or over, it's just a fine. Don't get me wrong, i support NORML for being one of the best pot activists groups, it's just the information is off.
damn dude, now what im about to tell you is gonna piss you off. I was caught with 30 grams, seperated into 6 different bags, scales, and a bong. SLammed 2 felonies (trafficing and intent to sale) and 3 misdameanors. Nothing happened to me, no jail, no community service, and let me mind you...that was my 3rd time gettin caught.
Well SG, i had plenty of penalities. But if you are referring to jail time after court, your statement is valid. In many states, probation is not available: In Conneticut, getting caught with a "useable amount" is one year in jail. Second offense for poss of like a 1/2 gram is 5 years in jail! I would like to move to Colorodo because each time you get caught it's just a 100 dollar fine!
If you live in a state with severe penalties you only have your self to blame. To change your situation you could -Move to a more pot-friendly state. -Become an activist. Write politicians, campaign for candidates who are pot-friendly, write letters to newspapers. In Seattle a few years ago there was a ballot inititive passed making pot poss. the lowest priority for the p.d. In Mendocino, CA, there was a ciunty ballot issue that cut off all county funds for the arrest and prosecution for poss. and growing 25 plants or less per person. This, in effect, made marijuana poss. and growing legal. It remains a crime,and if the cops come to your house for domestic abuse or revieving stolen property, etc., they can charge with a pot offence (and rip up your plants) but it will be dropped in court. Selling is not exempt, but the authorities know full well that grown correctly you can get 2 pounds or more per plant, and that not even Cheech can smoke 50 punds of bud per yeah--a pound a week. A man and a woman and a kid = 75 plants allowable; that's 150 pounds or more per year. Anyway, the authorities know that the excess is being sold. And they depend on it. The economy of Medocino, Humboldt and Trinity Counties run on pot. Without the 300 million pot nets the growers each year (retail 1 billion $$ according to the dea), many communities would cease to exist. Fewer people/less money mean less need for cops and politicians so everyone in government and every business owner has a vested fininicial interest in keeping $$ coming in. If you don't want to move, organize. Do some investigation on how much it costs your city/county/state to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate people for simple possession. Include this in your letters to the editor of papers and politicians. point out that overcrowding of jails means people in for serious crimes get out early. Whenever they send someone to jail for maijuana, they have to let someone in jail already out. That means burglers, muggers, meth cookers, guys who beat their wives, robbers and thieves all get out early. Ask people who they'd rather live next-door to--someone who snokes pot or someone who steals cars, beats their wife and deals meth. Don't take it anymore. Become the catalyst for change. You.
