Can you travel with medical marijuana in your car? The answer is yes. Carrying MMJ in your car is necessary for many MMJ patients and their carers, who need to transport their medicine from the dispensary to their home using their own car.
Many MMJ patients have no other option but to carry MMJ in their car because several MMJ states do not yet allow home delivery. For most patients, transporting their MMJ home from the dispensary in their car is the simplest and most convenient option.
But having medical marijuana in your car means that you must take specific actions and precautions in order to stay on the right side of the law. It isn’t a case of merely throwing your medical marijuana purchases on the passenger seat and cruising off into the sunset!
Being pulled over with medical marijuana in your vehicle can be a tricky situation. Even in legal MMJ and recreational cannabis states, there are specific rules you need to follow when carrying marijuana products in your car.
Are each state’s MMJ laws the same? How should you carry MMJ products in your car? Can you drive high with a medical card? What are your rights if you are pulled over by law enforcement with MMJ in your car? Can you cross state lines with MMJ in your vehicle? Below, we will answer all of these questions and more.
1. States Have Different Specific Rules About Carrying MMJ In Your Car
Different states have their own specific MMJ rules and regulations. While it is important to know the general rules about traveling with MMJ in your car that apply in all states, it is crucial that you read up on the specifics of the MMJ rules in your home state. Laws around things like possession limits and storage practices differ quite a lot between states.
2. Always Carry Your ID And MMJ Card With You
When you are traveling with medical marijuana in your car, it is essential that you always carry identification and a valid medical marijuana card. Not having either of these crucial documents is a surefire way to attract unwanted attention from any law enforcement you cross paths with.
3. Drive Safely And Sensibly With MMJ On Board
When you are carrying medical marijuana in your car, it is important to drive sensibly and safely. Of course, you should drive safely at all times. But any type of unsafe driving plus marijuana in your vehicle is a combination that will attract the attention of law enforcement.
4. If Pulled Over By Law Enforcement, Know Your Rights
When you are pulled over by law enforcement, you have certain rights. They include:
- The right to remain silent
- The right to not consent to a search
- The right to carry MMJ in the legal amount if it is stowed correctly
- The right to leave the scene if you are not under arrest
- The right to legal representation if you are detained
5. Do Not Drive While High On MMJ
It is illegal to drive while under the influence of marijuana, and this includes MMJ. Whether or not you are under the influence of MMJ is decided by a sobriety test by law enforcement in most states. It is also illegal to consume marijuana on a public roadway in most states, so you should not allow any passengers in your vehicle to use MMJ while you travel either. The smell of cannabis is legal grounds for a search in most states.
6. Pack And Stow Your MMJ Correctly While Driving
Think of MMJ like you would think of alcohol when driving. It is illegal to drive with open containers of alcohol or MMJ in your car. Like alcohol, MMJ must be securely stowed in an area of the vehicle that is not accessible to the driver or passengers. MMJ should be stowed in the trunk of your car in sealed packaging.
7. It Is Federally Illegal To Cross State Lines With MMJ
It is illegal to cross state borders with MMJ. This is because MMJ is not yet legal on a federal level. If you are caught by federal law enforcement crossing state lines with MMJ, even between two legal MMJ states, your MMJ will be confiscated and you will risk prosecution. Also, do not attempt to cross international borders with MMJ in your vehicle. Even entering the border crossing zone can result in you having your MMJ confiscated.
How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card
The best way to get your own MMJ card is to arrange a consultation with an MMJ doctor in your state through the MMJRecs online clinic. MMJRecs will put you in contact with an MMJ doctor who can verify your medical condition and prescribe you a medical marijuana card. It is a quick and easy process that is done from the comfort of your own home.
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