Portland Medical Marijuana Attorneys

According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, Public Health Division, as of January 1st 2009 there were 20,842 patients in Oregon holding medical marijuana cards. The majority of these are issued for severe pain, followed by persistent muscle spasms and then nausea. These cards are issued for cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and seizures as well.

While these ID cards offer protection from state law enforcement for legal medical marijuana users, a legal cardholder may still face prosecution under federal law.

This is why you need to consult a Portland drug crime defense attorney immediately if you have been arrested or are under investigation for any type of drug crime related to marijuana.  Working with an attorney is how you can take action to help ensure that you do not face maximum penalties for this offense.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act protects medical marijuana users who comply with its requirements. Under this Act, medical marijuana users are protected from criminal prosecution for marijuana cultivation, marijuana possession and marijuana distribution/delivery. To be protected, an individual must register in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program and be issued a special identification card.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act does not protect individuals from prosecution by the federal government for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. This means that your freedom and rights may be on the line, even if you are a legal medical marijuana user. Oregon state law may consider that what you are doing is legal, but federal law does not recognize it as such. You will need an attorney to protect your rights in these cases.

Drug Crime Lawyers in Portland, Oregon

Working with a drug crime defense lawyer is in your best interest in the face of any type of drug charges, particularly those involving medical marijuana. What you were doing may have been perfectly legal according to state law, and yet you are now facing prosecution under federal statutes and may be facing incarceration along with other serious criminal penalties. You need a defense attorney on your side as soon as possible.

Contact a Portland medical marijuana lawyer at our firm regarding your drug charges!