Ithaca DWI Lawyer: Off the Job Marijuana Use Leads to Legal Firing

Quadriplegics Aren't Protected
Under Federal Marijuana Law 

As we all stand witness to both the changing laws and the growth of the marijuana industry I am greatly troubled by all the injustice. But Larry twenty five states have medical marijuana and eight have recreational marijuana, isn't that great progress? Well yes and no because the law is still greatly imbalanced and confusing.

We have no uniformity with what driving while high on THC even means, we have four different standards nationally for driving impaired by THC. We have no uniformity for the medical use and prescription of marijuana amongst the twenty five states legalizing it's use. And we still have Federal law on controlled substances which just this past year has labeled marijuana as Schedule one right next to heroin and LSD. A recent Colorado case highlights just how messed up things still remain.


When a quadriplegic can't use his legalized medical marijuana without punishment well what about the average joe?

Ithaca DWI Lawyer: The Dangers of Marijuana Use and a State License

Nothing Like a Colorado Rocky Mountain High

Just this month a New York Times article really brought to light how we are living in dangerous times. The best of times and the worst of times when it comes to the legalization of marijuana. With more than twenty five states now with medical pot and many with recreational marijuana sales in the billions are we heading for National legality? Are we as far as we think we are progressively when it comes to accepting marijuana for what it is? If you hold a teaching certification or other professional license in New York State is it dangerous to smoke or consume marijuana while on a Colorado or California vacation?

Ithaca DWI Lawyer: Can the Police Check Your Car Trunk for Drugs in New York?

Trunk Access from My Back Seat

In a recent court case of People v. Jones, 2016, Livingston County a person was stopped for speeding which led to search of his car and then of his trunk. Of course pot was found in the trunk of his car, and a suppression hearing was held to determine the constitutionality (legality) of the police search of the trunk.

Was the trooper within the law?

Is it ok for the police to check your car's trunk?

Does this violate your 4th amendment rights?

Can they do this with every car stop?

Ithaca DWI Lawyer: How Ithaca, New York Makes Law: A Story of Pot, Parks, and People

from epodunk, Dewitt Park

Little Ithaca, NY is no more than a blip on the map but things do happen here as evidenced by a recently published Ithaca City Court decision. This particular case involved pot smoking in one of our beautiful little downtown parks. You see marijuana is ubiquitous to Ithaca as well as those who like to partake. Yes New York State now does have "medical" marijuana but we are a world away from the medical use of marijuana in California or even New Jersey. But that is a story all it's own for another day. The police here still view pot in a criminal way and not a casual one. You know where people just relax and breathe deep amidst the joys of nature.

The Ithaca, NY Mix of Pot, People, and Public Parks

When you mix up pot with people in a public place you can see how things can go abit awry. The case is called People v. Brukner, see the full legal decision here:

http://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2015/2015-ny-slip-op-25434.html

Mr. Brukner was merely hanging out with a bunch of his friends in Dewitt Park on a lovely July night. Oh the Ithaca weather in July is delicious. The summer time is truly the time to enjoy all that the Finger Lakes have to offer. It is a welcome respite after enduring another harsh and brutal winter. The cold in Ithaca is not just a temperature thing it's a severely depressing one with tones of grey and night ocean blue.