All over the country, states have been loosening marijuana restrictions. Many let people use medical marijuana. Some have started allowing recreational use, following some of the same basic principles as alcohol sales — age limits, no driving under the influence, etc. Still others technically do not allow marijuana use but have decriminalized it by making it similar to a traffic ticket.
If you have been watching these changes, do not make the mistake of thinking that this has also happened in Georgia. It has not. The laws here are still among the strictest in the nation. Marijuana is something you need to take very seriously, especially when visiting from another state where the same approach may not be used.
For instance, someone who has more than a single ounce in Georgia has committed a felony. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to 10 years behind bars.
Now, it’s also important for you to know that there are other options. For example, the sentencing can fall between 1 and 10 years, so you may not see the entire decade in prison. On top of that, a lot of counties have decided to help people get treatment. If you agree to do so under a controlled program, you may be able to do that instead of going to jail at all.
So, while you do need to know that we have strict laws here, you also want to know about all of your legal options. You do not want to let a marijuana arrest derail your plans for your life.