Did you know that even though marijuana is legal in Virginia it could land you in prison?

Did you know that even though marijuana is legal in Virginia it could land you in prison?

Although marijuana is now legal in Virginia, it is still a crime punishable by imprisonment. In this blog, Right Path Law Group will explain the ins and outs of Virginia's marijuana laws, and how you can stay out of trouble with the law.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed the state's recreational cannabis law on April 21, 2021, and Virginia residents began being able to possess small amounts of the formerly regulated drug starting July 1, 2021.

But before it passed, many lobbyists and advocacy groups spoke out against the bill because they were concerned about the potential for an increase in cannabis-related accidents.

Is that a real concern, does the legalization of recreational marijuana lead to an increase in accidents? There are at least 16 other states that have legalized marijuana before Virginia. A study in Colorado showed an increase in fatal accidents following the legalization of the recreational use of the drug.

But, another study of accident rates in Washington state before and after legalization shows that there was no change. Mind you, the researchers concluded that there would be an estimated increase of seven thousand deaths per year attributable to the legalization of recreational marijuana nationwide. 

   

You should be aware that marijuana, even in small amounts, can significantly impair fine motor skills, which can seriously affect your driving. What may start out as a quiet night legally smoking a little marijuana could result in a traffic stop that leads you to face criminal charges. 

As a result of a quiet night of legal smoking, you may end up committing common traffic violations, such as speeding and other citations related to highway safety.

Now, penalties for infrequent infractions are limited to simply paying a fine to a court and possible demerit points against your driving record that will diminish over time.

However, you have to keep in mind that once there are two or three violations in a fairly short period of time there will be costly consequences aside from the accumulation of court fines and the additional risk of suspension of your license, as well as incurring higher insurance rates.

If you are involved in a car accident while under the influence of a substance, the fight will be even greater against the insurance companies and the enormous efforts they will make to delay or void your compensation. Without an attorney on your side, be prepared for a long and drawn-out process to get anything in your favor. Especially if you are injured and out of work trying to figure out how to pay for medical expenses and support your family.

   

It stands to reason that if you are in this situation, the thought of having to pay for an attorney will be out of the question and you think you are stuck without finding any help. At Right Path Law Group, we are here to tell you that this is not the case, we will handle your case and you will owe us nothing unless we win your case.

So, the wisest thing to do is to never drive under the influence of any substance. If you make this mistake or are wrongfully accused, do not hesitate to ask for a free consultation with Pierre Prialé, a specialist attorney with more than 15 years of experience in this type of case in Fairfax Virginia, call us at 703-637-9999.