Marijuana and When Should You Use Discretion
There are several circumstances where you may want to get to know someone before blazing up
Recreational marijuana is currently legal in ten states and in Washington D.C. For all the weed lovers living in those states, it has been a long time coming. If your state recently legalized marijuana, your first instinct may be to blaze up for the world to see. But erring on the side of caution is more beneficial than not. Here are the following scenarios when it’s best to play it safe when it comes to enjoying marijuana.
Your bread and butter
If you live in a state that is “at will” regarding employment, you can be fired for any reason including the use of marijuana. Companies can ban the use of cannabis and use that as a basis for terminating an employee. Under Proposition 64, employers in California can penalize employees if they test positive for marijuana, regardless of where the employee is high during work hours.
As the use of marijuana for recreational purposes is illegal under federal law, marijuana is off limits to those who want to stay employed at federal agencies or agencies regulated by the federal government. These jobs include healthcare, transportation and banking just to name a few.
First Impressions
Would you rather be happy, or right?
There are several circumstances where you may want to get to know someone before blazing up. There are other times where smoking around the wrong individuals could lead to legal trouble. The following are questions you may want to ask yourself before getting high depending on the situation:
- Do you have a job interview with a company that could skyrocket your career?
- Are you meeting your boyfriend or girlfriends’ parents for the first time?
- Are you meeting people for the first time that are conservative or of religious background?
- Are you attending a kid’s birthday party?
- Are you babysitting small children for extra money?
If you are planning on any of the above, smelling like a hot box may not be a smart move.
Kids
Discernment should be used when smoking around young kids. Whether or not parents ingest weed in front of their children is up to them. Many people drink beer or wine in front of their kids and don’t think twice about it. If parents do decide to ingest cannabis in front of their kids, the key is to do so responsibly. Parents should be alert enough to watch over small children that need adult supervision.
It’s vital to make sure weed is stored in a place where minors do not have access to it. For example, in New York, a 10-year-old boy became ill after eating gummy candies found inside of his father’s car. This resulted in the police arresting the boy’s father for child endangerment. This serves as an important lesson that edibles should not be placed with other food in the house. Parents should hide it in a private stash where children will not mistake it for everyday food.
Parties who have guests under 21
Hosting parties can be a lot of fun. If you are over the age of 21 you’re free to party and enjoy cannabis with your friends. However, if you have friends who are under the age of 18, refrain from the pressure of sharing your weed with them. Failure to do so can lead to a conviction for distributing marijuana to a minor, if you are over the age of 18. Under Cal Health & Safety Code § 11361 if you give marijuana to a minor under the age of 14 in California, you could be sentenced to three to seven years in prison.
Behind the Wheel
Common sense should tell you that smoking weed in the car is just asking for trouble. If you want to prevent being pulled over by the police, don’t risk smoking weed while in the car. Under California Veh Code § 23152 (f) it’s unlawful for a person who is under the influence of any drug to drive a vehicle. Most of the time, the punishment for marijuana related DUI’s are similar to drunk driving offenses. The penalty could vary from a suspended license to jail time.
Conclusion
If you’re consuming cannabis in a state where it’s legal, be aware of zones that prohibit the usage of marijuana. It’s also important to take note that legality changes across state and international lines. There’s a saying that “perception is everything”, we still have a long way to go against fighting unfair stereotypes when it comes to marijuana use. Until then, play it smart and enjoy cannabis responsibly.
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Rebecca Padilla 
