Half of Wyoming Favors Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use

Medical Marijuana and Marijuana for Recreational Use Remains Illegal

A recent poll conducted by the University of Wyoming shows that almost half of the people in Wyoming are in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

Support for legalizing marijuana for recreational use has continued to rise, with more and more states across the country legalizing marijuana for medicinal and recreational use.

The major opposition to legalizing recreational marijuana in Wyoming comes from people ages 45 - 54 (64% opposed), 65 - 74 (67% opposed), and those over 75 (81% opposed).

A majority of young people are in favor of legalizing marijuana, with 63% of 18 - 24 year olds in favor legalizing marijuana for recreational use, 58% of people ages 25 - 29 in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, and 53% of people ages 35 - 44 in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use . People ages 55 - 64 were also in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use at a rate of 61%.

University of Wyoming Study Finds Almost Half of People in Wyoming Favor Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use

The 2018 study conducted by the University of Wyoming found that 49 percent of people in Wyoming are in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

Over nine days in October 2018, the study polled 607 random people in Wyoming. Researchers contacted people by both cell phone and landline, and sought to keep results as close to the actual demographics of the state as possible, including county of residence, age, and gender. The final set of data almost perfectly matched distribution of Wyoming voter affiliation.

In addition to showing support for recreational marijuana, the study showed high levels of support for legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, and for easing penalties for people convicted for possession of marijuana.

Despite the growing support for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, others around the state urge caution. The Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police has pointed out that there are potential negative consequences to the legalization of marijuana. Since marijuana was legalized in Colorado the state has seen a 151% increase in drugged driving deaths. Additionally, there have been issues surrounding the high potency of commercially packaged edible products.

Marijuana Remains Illegal in Wyoming and at the Federal Level

Regardless of the growing support for legalizing recreational marijuana, marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, and is still illegal in Wyoming.

Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, which means that it has no medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Depending on the amount of marijuana in your possession, if you are caught with marijuana penalties range from one year in prison and a fine of $1,000 to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000 per charge.

It’s also important to understand that if you are charged with marijuana possession in Wyoming, law enforcement will include the weight of the drug plus any carrier agent, cutting agent, diluting agent, or other substance. This means that if you are caught with edibles such as marijuana brownies, you will be charged based on the entire weight of the brownies.

The Wyoming Criminal Law Group, P.C. Defends People Accused of Marijuana-Related Crimes

If you or someone you care about has been charged with possession of marijuana, it’s important that you hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer. A criminal defense lawyer can challenge the evidence against you in an effort to have the charges reduced or even dismissed, and can advise you on the best course of action for your unique situation.

Defending someone who is accused of possession of marijuana is difficult, but not impossible. By aggressively defending a drug possession case attorney Christina L. Williams and her team of criminal defense professionals tries to convince the prosecutor to reduce the charges, or even drop them altogether.

To defend someone accused of possession of marijuana the criminal defense professionals at The Wyoming Criminal Law Group, P.C. will challenge the evidence you and the means by which it was obtained. If the stop was unjustified or if the search that led to the discovery of the drugs was illegal, that evidence cannot be considered. This can force the prosecutor to reduce the charges or even dismiss the case against you.

You might also be able to challenge whether you were actually in possession of marijuana. Prosecutors often use the theory of constructive possession to show that the drugs were yours even if, for example, you were driving a car that your friend let you borrow. By arguing that the drugs were your friend’s and not yours, our team of criminal defense professionals will try to convince the prosecutor to drop the case against you.

The prosecutor must also prove that the substance you were in possession of was actually an illegal substance. This means that the prosecutor must send the substance to a crime lab to prove that it was actually marijuana. The lab technician must then testify in court in order to convict you. In an overworked prosecutor's office, sometimes this step of getting a lab technician to authenticate the evidence can be enough to convince the prosecutor to reduce the charges against you.

If You’re Facing Marijuana Possession Charges Hire a Team of Experienced Criminal Defense Professionals

If you or someone you care about is facing charges of possession of marijuana, it’s important that you hire a skilled and experienced drug possession defense lawyer as quickly as possible.

The team of criminal defense professionals at The Wyoming Criminal Law Group, P.C. is here to protect your one shot at justice. We have extensive experience defending people accused of drug possession, at both the state and federal level.

Contact Christina L. Williams and The Wyoming Criminal Law Group, P.C. by calling 307-686-6556, emailing inquiry@justcriminallaw.com, or complete our online form.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is offered for educational purposes only. This information is not offered as legal advice. A person accused of a crime should always consult with an attorney before making decisions that have legal consequences.