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7 Best Legal Weed Tips for 4/20

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on April 19, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

For smokers, stoners, tokers, vapers, and now edible nibblers, tomorrow is a national holiday on par with Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Eve all rolled into one giant doobie, lit, puffed, and passed to the left. Every year, 4/20 celebrations around the country get bigger and bigger, as marijuana becomes more and more legal.

Does that mean you have the right to blaze wherever you want on 4/20? Not quite. The feds still outlaw weed (though maybe not for long) and even in states where recreational pot is legal, being high in public may not be (though we don't expect that to stop all of you). What else do you need to know about marijuana possession and use on 4/20? Here's a quick rundown:

1. Marijuana Arrests Happened Every 51 Seconds in the U.S. Last Year

Yes, states are legalizing it. But that doesn't mean marijuana is unregulated. Know your local laws and follow them.

2. Seven States Struggling With Medical Marijuana

While medical marijuana can be a step in the right direction, it can also be a regulatory nightmare with states, doctors, dispensaries, and patients caught in legal limbo.

3. Defenses to Marijuana Possession

Even if you're in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, or any other state that has legalized recreational marijuana, there are still restrictions on how much you can carry and where. And if you're not allowed to carry at all, there may still be defenses you can claim.

4. Weed in the Car: What to Do When Pulled Over

On your way to or from a 4/20 celebration? Make sure you know what to do if you're stopped by the cops.

5. Marijuana Breathalyzers: 5 Things You Should Know

Yes, driving while high is a crime. And yes, they're developing breathalyzers, blood tests, and saliva swaps to detect just how high you are while you were driving.

6. 3 Potential Ways to Challenge a Marijuana DUI Charge

If you do get pulled over and charged with driving under the influence of marijuana, you do have legal rights and ways to challenge the charge.

If you got convicted of a pot-related crime that is no longer a crime in your state, you may be able to apply for relief or a pardon.

Getting excited about a weed holiday is great. Getting in legal trouble because of your celebration is not. So before you light one up this 4/20, make sure you check out FindLaw's Marijuana Legalization and Decriminalization Overview, and if you get in trouble tomorrow, you should probably talk to an experienced drug crime attorney in your area.

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