Marijuana is seen for sale at Harborside, one of California's largest and oldest dispensaries of medical marijuana, on the first day of legalized recreational marijuana sales in Oakland, California, Jan. 1, 2018.
California legalized marijuana on New Year’s Day.
But pot possession and use could still have dire effects for noncitizens and undocumented immigrants.
Marijuana is still illegal federally. And federal law controls immigration.
“It’s really unfortunate,” says Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods. “For immigrants, anyone who is convicted of possession of over 30 grams of marijuana, whether here legally or not, will be deportable.”
Noncitizens may have even more cause for worry after Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed federal prosecutors to more aggressively pursue people who sell and use marijuana in states that have legalized it.
Related: Obama-era policy up in smoke with new marijuana crackdown
“I can’t imagine — and I could be wrong — that there will be a huge enforcement uptick in California,” says Woods. He cites the lack of federal resources to go after marijuana cases and says federal prosecutors in California tend to be more liberal than in other parts of the country.
Still, uncertainty abounds.
Noncitizens “are worried, and they have to be worried,” says Woods. “Just based on the current administration’s stance on immigration in general.”
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!