Philadelphia which is one of the largest cities in the state of Pennsylvania passed a law in 2014 that decriminalized the use and possession of marijuana. This law is however not statewide and different cities have different laws. Pennsylvania General Assembly elected to pass a bill known as the Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16) on the 17th of April, 2016.
This bill legalizes the consumption, sale, and use of Medical marijuana this bill does not legalize marijuana for recreational use. Citizens of Pennsylvania that have a medical card can legally obtain cannabis from their local dispensaries.
Charges for Marijuana in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, marijuana is looked at differently when we compare it to other controlled substances if it does not exceed 30 grams.
This means that if you are caught in possession of marijuana that does not exceed 30 grams you may be given a citation only. This is dependent on the law enforcement officer presiding over your case. However, this leeway changes quickly if you are caught in possession of marijuana that exceeds 30 grams. If you are caught with over 1 pound of marijuana you will be possibly facing incarceration or at the very least a hefty fine.
While it is true that offenses regarding marijuana are treated softer and given more leeway as compared to other substances it is best advised to obey the law.
Due process of marijuana case in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, a person caught in possession of marijuana does not get the right to an immediate jury trial. He/she will have to start in the Philadelphia municipal court at first. There a judge will be assigned over your case.
The judge will be given the jurisdiction over your case and he/she will decide on whether to charge you with possession with intent to deliver which is considered a felony and may result in jail time. The best-case scenario is if you are charged with Possession only, which is not considered a felony but rather a misdemeanor.
SAM program in Philadelphia
Philadelphia took the first step in decriminalizing by setting up the SAM program which is also known as the Small Amount of Marijuana program. Under the rules of this program, if a person is caught with marijuana under 30 grams the district attorney would ask the person charged with the crime to pay a small fine and be sentenced to few hours of community service.
If the person accepts this charge then he/she will have their crime exonerated. However, if the person charged with the crime fails to pay the fine or fails to complete the community service, he/she will be transferred to the Philadelphia Municipal court.
After this, a judge will be assigned to the case and the judge will sentence you as he sees fit.
Conclusion
With many countries and states realizing the positive effects cannabis can have for medical purposes, the process of legalizing cannabis has received a major boost recently.
The state of Pennsylvania has legalized medical marijuana and people that reside in Pennsylvania can obtain cannabis legally with the help of a medical card. Philadelphia which is one of the largest cities Pennsylvania has recently started to pass acts that decriminalize marijuana.
The SAM program is an act where people caught with a small amount of possession are let off with a mere citation. Although Philadelphia treats marijuana offenses softer as compared to other more potent substances it is still considered a crime.
People caught with marijuana that exceeds more than 30grams are liable to more severe punishments and could face incarceration or be slapped with a hefty fine. It is best advised to read the law before you proceed to purchase marijuana or else you might have to face the long arms of the law.