Recreational marijuana is illegal in Ohio. This used to be true across the entire country, but state laws have been changing quickly. Over roughly the last decade, about half of the states have legalized marijuana for adult use. People just have to be 21 years old and make their purchases at legal dispensaries.
One state that has done this is Michigan, Ohio’s neighbor to the north. There are many dispensaries in the southern half of the state, and people from Ohio may be tempted to drive into Michigan, buy these cannabis products, and then bring them home. They see this as a legal way to get around the ban on marijuana in Ohio. After all, they’re making a legal purchase. If you’re thinking about doing this, are there any issues you should be aware of?
Breaking the law on two levels
Transporting recreational marijuana is actually illegal in two different ways. To begin with, it is federally illegal because you have to cross state lines. The federal government has not yet recognized recreational marijuana, so crossing any state borders gives federal authorities jurisdiction to make an arrest.
On top of that, it is also a violation of Ohio laws. Purchasing marijuana in Michigan isn’t illegal, even for someone from out of state. They can consume their products while they’re still in Michigan, and that’s also legal.
But if you have made such a purchase and you drive back into Ohio, you are then in violation of local and state laws, and you could face arrest. A receipt from a dispensary in Michigan isn’t going to get you out of the charges. Be sure you know what legal defense options you have.