You know that marijuana is legal for both recreational and medical use. This is vastly different than things have been in the past – prior to 1996 in California, for medical use – and it means that a lot of minor drug crimes are no longer leading to arrests.

But is there anything you should know about marijuana use that could still lead to charges?

You must obtain it legally

One of the biggest things to remember is that you still need to obtain marijuana legally. This means going to a dispensary to buy it for recreational use or to use your medical card.

After all, buying it from someone else and not from a licensed dispensary is still illegal, and breaks the laws that allow for distribution. Even if you have a medical marijuana license, you still can't share medical marijuana with other people, especially if they don't have a license. So, while the substance itself may be legal, it does still matter how you obtained it.

You can't drive while you're high

Another thing to remember is that, just like alcohol, you can't use marijuana and then get in the car and drive. This is still illegal and you could face serious charges for driving after you get pulled over or if you're involved in an accident. The mere fact that the substance you were using has been decriminalized doesn't change the fact that you have broken the law if you've done this.

Are you facing charges?

If you are facing drug charges for something related to marijuana, be sure you are fully aware of all of the legal defense options at your disposal.