If you Cross the Eads, Leave the Weed

Come January 1st, residents of Illinois will be allowed to possess any combination of 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of cannabis concentrate, and 500 milligrams of THC contained in a cannabis-infused product. Non-residents will be able to possess half of those amounts. Not only is this news exciting for the residents of Illinois, it’s also exciting for their many neighboring cities, such as St. Louis! 

BUT - if you’re thinking about bringing any of these products back across the boarder with you, think again. 

Not only does the state of Illinois prohibit the transportation of cannabis across state lines, recreational use of cannabis is still illegal in Missouri [although it is decriminalized]. 

According to the Missouri Sentencing commission, possessing between 10 and 35 grams of marijuana in Missouri can be charged as a class A misdemeanor, which could carry up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. While persons caught with less than 10 grams of marijuana could face a Class D misdemeanor, which carries up to a $500 fine. However, late last year, the city decided to stop prosecuting marijuana possession under 100 grams - unless the offense was committed in connection with another crime, such as illegal gun possession. 

When some people think about trafficking cannabis across state lines, they imagine an Ocean’s 11-style drug heist. But to authorities, trafficking cannabis can be as innocent as having a fun weekend with your girlfriends in Chicago, and on your way back home to St. Louis, you forget that you had a few grams of flower left in the car.

Not much has been reveled about how each state will handle “trafficking” cases. But worst case, each state can prosecute an individual [separately], and because it is still not legal at the federal level, transporting marijuana across state lines could also result in federal criminal prosecution.

We’re all for crossing the bridge to experience a recreational state. But with that comes great responsibility. Know the laws surrounding cannabis in your state, as well as your neighboring recreational state. Because nothing will blow your high like catching a case.