this post was submitted on 12 Dec 2024
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Since 1996 in California.
Federal agents can still arrest you, even for personal use. Its just that US Presidents have decided to tell federal agencies to not enforce it in states that are legal. We don't know what the 2nd trump administration would do, they seems to love this idea of "tough on crime" so they could decide to enforce controlled substances more strictly, even non-violent personal uses.
They will likely just use it as one of their legal cudgels for silencing dissent/opposition and "punishing" political opponents. In other words, they don't give a shit, but it will still be technically illegal so they can use it when it suits them.
Who is getting busted by federal agents for a half oz or a vape? It is legal in the states that have legalized it. Of course I'd rather it be made legal federally and I hate the states' rights kind of issue it is but to act like it is functionally illegal across the US is silly.
They've set up a situation where they can basically choose when and to whom, the law will apply. This is exactly what Republicans want.
This will be a defining feature of the upcoming Trump regime. You may have heard your Fox News watching relatives mention "lawfare" when talking about Trump being a criminal... Well it's more projection because it is exactly what they will be doing moving forward.
As it always is with conservatives, they are incapable of understanding that someone might not be a complete piece of shit like they are, so in their minds, everyone must be doing the thing that they want to be doing.
Its de facto legal, but only because there aren't enough federal agents to enforce it, but de jure illegal, because the law is still on the books, marijuana is still a Schedule I Controlled Substance.
Also, its only if you are a citizen, that you can just smoke weed, the risk is low for any legal reprocussions. But for non-citizens, that little weed can get you deported. Its silly, but its true. That's why I don't like people saying "weed is legal", since it's technically not true.