Can you consume Cannabis publicly in Bal Harbor ?
Cannabis is becoming more and more used all across the US, mainly because of the many states that have legalized it entirely or allowed consumption and possession with a doctor’s note. CDB that has been derived from hemp is also popular as a safe substitute to replace painkillers and anti-anxiety medication. Dispensaries are opening in every state when Cannabis is legal, and some restaurants even have marijuana in their recipes.
In Bal Harbour, Florida, there are more than ten dispensaries in the city. But while consuming marijuana in your home is legal, and possession of marijuana is legal, the laws on publicly consuming it are in a grey area. We’ll discuss the laws and regulations on purchasing and consuming Cannabis while in public. SO the next time you’re in Bal Harbor, have fun and be responsible at the same time.
Public consumption of Cannabis in Bal Harbor
First, we’ll go over Florida state laws since Bal Harbor is in Florida. The laws state that the recreational consumption of Cannabis is still illegal. If you are caught with 20 gram or less of marijuana, you can be punished by receiving a fine of $1000. You will also be charged with a misdemeanor and can be sent to jail for up to a year. If you are found with more than 20 grams of Cannabis, then harsher punishments will occur. You can be imprisoned for 5 to 30 years in prison or face up to $200,000 in fines. Florida is known for having the harshest punishments in the country
However, Florida recently enacted a major medical marijuana program, where residents can buy, possess, and consume medical marijuana with a doctor’s prescription. This has given way to dozens of dispensaries opening across the state, including Bal Harbor.
In Bal Harbor, the laws are the same. You cannot buy and consume Cannabis without a prescription. And if you try to consume it in public, you will be fined even if you have a medical marijuana license. If you don’t, you will receive a higher fine and possibly jail time. If you need to consume marijuana, it is best to do so in the privacy of your own home or apartment. Public places include parks, beaches, mountains, trails, malls, schools and universities. Bal Harbor does allow dispensaries to operate within the city, as long as they have the proper licensing, and they do not sell to those who don’t have a prescription.
Bal Harbor doesn’t have any other laws that differ from the state laws regarding purchasing, consuming, possessing, and being in public with Cannabis. In Miami and Daytona, however, the laws in those areas are different.
In conclusion
Florida may not have total legalization of Cannabis yet, but with the popularity of its medical marijuana program rising, politicians predicted it would be legal within the next five years. Even if growing it isn’t legalized, purchase and consumption will be the next important step. Public consumption is currently illegal all over Florida, and that also included Bal Harbor. But experts hope to see full legalization of Cannabis within 5 years. Legalization will not only bring in more money to Florida as cannabis sales rise and bring in more tax revenue, but it will also stop people from being arrested for committing a “victimless” crime. If so, Bal Harbor, along with the rest of the state, will be preventing families from being torn apart for consuming a plant that doesn’t have adverse side effects.