Champaign Defense Attorneys for Marijuana Possession for Alzheimer’s

You’ve been charged with a drug crime, and you’re scared about what comes next.

Drug offenses are taken very seriously across the United States. The state of Illinois falls in line with many other states that penalize drug offenses, such as marijuana possession, harshly. When it comes to marijuana possession and use, however, criminalization of the drug is controversial. In some states, marijuana is legal for recreational use. In other states, marijuana isn’t legalized but some of those states have exceptions for medicinal use.

There has been increasing research that shows the benefits of marijuana use for certain diseases and medical conditions, such as cancer and lupus. Among the medical diseases for which marijuana can be beneficial is Alzheimer’s disease.

Maybe you’ve been using marijuana to help with your Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, you’ve recently been charged with marijuana possession because you were caught by law enforcement with marijuana on your person. You need an experienced defense attorney who can defend you against these charges. At Bruno Law Offices, our Champaign marijuana possession defense lawyers can craft the best legal strategy based on your use of marijuana for your Alzheimer’s disease.  We’ll fight as hard as we can to help you reach a favorable outcome in your case.

To schedule a consultation to discuss your charges, call the Champaign marijuana possession defense lawyers of Bruno Law Offices at (217) 328-6000 or contact us online.

The Benefits of Marijuana for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

There is still a great deal of research to be done on the long-term effects that marijuana may have on Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Studies of marijuana use in dementia and Alzheimer’s patients have shown that the drug could help with some of the common symptoms of the disease. Given marijuana’s calming and relaxing properties, Alzheimer’s patients could sleep better and have an elevated mood with marijuana use. Research has shown that some of the erratic behaviors that Alzheimer’s patients often have could potentially be minimized by the use of marijuana.

Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel, difficult disease to try to manage. If you’ve found relief or success with marijuana use for your Alzheimer’s disease, it’s understandable why you would use the drug.

Marijuana Laws in Illinois

For decades, marijuana was illegal in Illinois, as it was in every state across the nation. Following the legalization of marijuana in states like Washington and Colorado, Illinois passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act in 2013. This legalized the use of marijuana for certain “debilitating” medical conditions which include “agitation of” Alzheimer’s disease. As long as you have a valid medical card, you could visit a dispensary in Illinois and purchase cannabis or cannabis-containing products.

Recently in 2020, the state passed a law legalizing the recreational use of marijuana-based on strict conditions. You have to be at least 21 years old to purchase marijuana. Illinois residents can’t possess more than one ounce of cannabis flower or five grams of cannabis concentrate. If you’re not a resident of Illinois, you can’t possess more than half an ounce of cannabis flower or 2.5 grams of cannabis concentrate. If you’re under the age of 21 and are found in possession of cannabis in any form, then you can be charged with marijuana possession.

Marijuana Possession Penalties in Illinois

If you’re convicted of marijuana possession, you can face steep penalties. These penalties range broadly depending on the amount of marijuana in your possession and whether this is your first alleged offense or a subsequent marijuana possession offense. Below, are Illinois penalties for a conviction of possession of marijuana:

• Possession of between 30 and 100 grams of marijuana, for a first offense, is a class A misdemeanor. If you’re found guilty of possession of more than 30 grams but less than 100 grams of marijuana, you could face a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.
• A subsequent charge of possession of between 30 and 100 grams of marijuana is a Class 4 felony. If found guilty of the offense, you could be imprisoned for between one and three years and fined up to $25,000.
• Possession of between 100 and 500 grams of marijuana is also a Class 4 felony, carrying penalties of up to three years of prison and $25,000 in fines.
• If you’re found guilty of possession of more than 500 grams but less than 2,000 grams of marijuana, you could be fined a maximum of $25,000 and be sentenced to two to five years of prison for the Class 3 felony.
• Possession of anywhere between 2,000 and 5,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 2 felony. A conviction carries up to a $25,000 fine along with a minimum of three years and a maximum of seven years in prison.
• A charge of possession of more than 5,000 grams of marijuana is a Class 1 felony. This is the most serious marijuana possession charge and carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.

The serious penalties for a marijuana possession conviction are the reason why you can’t take your charge lightly nor leave your defense up to a novice attorney. Our decades of experience in defending our clients against this exact charge would be a huge benefit to you.

Need a Marijuana Possession Defense Attorney? Contact Bruno Law Offices

Have you been charged with marijuana possession even though you were only in possession of the drug because its use helps with your Alzheimer’s disease? You need a defense lawyer who is compassionate and understands the nature of the disease that you’re battling and has the legal experience to help you fight this charge. The Bruno Law Offices Champaign marijuana possession lawyers are who you need in your corner.

Our criminal defense lawyers have been defending the rights of the accused for over 40 years. We’ve helped those who have been charged with drug offenses beat their charges or reduce their sentences. To discuss how we can defend you against your marijuana possession charge, call us immediately at (217) 328-6000 or contact us online.