Marijuana laws in the United States have gotten fairly complicated. For decades, marijuana was prohibited at both the state and federal levels, all across the country. But that has now changed significantly, so there are many states where marijuana is legal for either medical or recreational purposes.
In Texas, some types of CBD containing THC are allowed. However, recreational marijuana products are still generally prohibited.
What some Texas residents wonder, then, is if they could just travel to another state where they can buy these recreational products, as long as they are 21 years old. After doing so, since that purchase was legal, could they then bring the products back with them to Texas? Would that be enough to avoid drug charges?
2 main legal concerns
There are two legal concerns with doing this. The first is simple: Regardless of where you buy marijuana products, you are still bound by the laws of Texas once you re-enter the state. So you could face drug possession charges, even if you can show proof that you made a legal purchase at a dispensary in another state.
The second issue is that crossing state lines makes it a federal issue. If you drove into Texas from another state, the federal government could then take jurisdiction over that activity. Federally, marijuana is still prohibited, so you could face legal charges on that front, as well.
As laws change, it is important for people to understand exactly what is and is not prohibited. If a misunderstanding leads to serious criminal charges, be sure you know what legal options you have.
