California has an odd drug culture, as the state government and the federal government have slightly different attitudes towards drug law and enforcement of the law. One major area of concern for both the state and the federal governments is the growing of Marijuana, since it poses not only a problem in terms of distribution, but when it is grown indoors it creates an unsafe living environment.
In order to grow pot indoors, the grower needs to create a certain type of environment in the room, including lights, moisture and other factors. Recently, a major fire was caused in a "grow house" (home where pot is grown), due to the grower's need for watering plants, having lights and so forth. In Humboldt County alone, one in every 7.5 houses is a grow house, which leads to increased crime, decreased home prices and a down turn in the community in general.
Drug charges in California can be stiff, even if medical Marijuana isn't illegal. In the last twenty years, there has been a twenty-five fold increase in drug convictions in the state of California. Different cities and counties regulate drug offense differently, some punish first-time offenders in a harsh manner, hoping to turn them away; others look to punish repeat offenders as much as possible. This means that getting arrested in different counties can increase your legal struggles.
In handling drug charges, the following are positive steps one can take in dealing with potential or current charges:
- Find an attorney ASAP. The longer one waits to hire a competent and experienced attorney, the more difficult it will be to avoid incarceration.
- Realize that most lower level offenses are misdemeanors and most higher level offenses are felonies and might even count under California's three strikes rules.
- If you are growing Marijuana under Prop 215, or any other law, make sure you obtain a state license and don't exceed the limits set by the state.
