As of July 1, 2018, the City of Savannah changed the City’s marijuana laws to “de-criminalize” the simple possession of marijuana. This change means that if you are caught with less than one ounce of marijuana, the police may decide to only give you a ticket with a fine rather than arrest you and charge you with a misdemeanor. However, it is important to remember that this change is discretionary and the officer has the ability to decide if they want to simply give you a ticket or arrest you.
Since the law change, Savannah has seen fewer marijuana arrests. However, as the numbers show, the change is being applied inconsistently. Some people did get tickets, but many others were formally arrested even though they had the same amount of marijuana in their possession. For others, the marijuana charge was simply used as the trigger to a much larger arrest (such as possession with intent to distribute, a felony).
Marijuana Possession is Still a Crime
Even though some reports claim “marijuana is legal in Savannah,” this is far from the truth. The fact is that possessing any amount of marijuana may subject you to a misdemeanor arrest or a serious felony charge. To learn more about how to avoid a marijuana arrest in Savannah, call us at The Turner Firm today.