Cross state lines with marijuana and take your child away

With marijuana legal for adults 21 and older in around 20 states, the American cannabis-using public has taken a smug attitude towards weed. Many believe that the growing adoption of marijuana in the United States has gotten to where it has virtually no impact, even if law enforcement finds it in states where it is banned. However, there are still a lot of hardships that can result from owning the cannabis plant in prohibited areas. One of them involves having your children taken away from the state.

Earlier this year, a Michigan woman named Erika Prock took her 18-month-old son to pick up her husband, Todd, from her in-laws along the Mississippi-Alabama border. On the way home, the family stopped for lunch in Moulton, Alabama. When Mr. Prock stood outside smoking a cigarette, the situation took a wild turn. A police officer accused Prock of having marijuana on his breath. According to AL.com‘Mr Prock finally admitted that he smoked marijuana and had about two ounces in the trunk.

Big trouble was on the horizon.

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The Procks, who hail from a state where marijuana has been legal for medical purposes since 2008 and adulthood since 2018, have been arrested on various charges, including possession of marijuana. In addition, the couple were later charged with dangerous chemicals – a law typically used to prosecute parents who raise children in meth labs. Her son was then picked up by the HR department and placed in foster families. He still lives with a strange family in Alabama to this day.

Now the couple face some criminal charges as they work to get their child back into their care. And that won’t be an easy task. They have since moved to a tent on their in-laws’ property, where they fought the prosecution for months. But the prosecutors are not taking the case lightly, and there is no sign that they will spare the Procks.

RELATED: Smoking marijuana in front of children in legal states is a no-no

“I don’t understand how the same situation in two different states can differ so drastically that your child will be fostered in one state for marijuana and you will be charged with chemical hazards,” Prock told the News source, “but in another state they think it’s legal and safe and you go home to your family that night and don’t have to worry about your child being taken away. “

At the risk of sounding insensitive to the situation, the Procks made a devastating mistake during this trip – they were traveling outside of their home state on marijuana. No matter how nonsensically conflicting marijuana laws are, the fact remains that a person (or couple) from a legal marijuana state cannot travel to a prohibition state like Alabama with marijuana in tow and cannot expect the wrath of law enforcement to feel when they are caught. States are not required to consider a person’s home state marijuana laws before filing a criminal complaint.

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In addition, some states remain militant against marijuana possession. In some places, weed is no different from heroin. Despite changing laws in many parts of the country, hundreds of thousands of people are arrested for cannabis every year. Unfortunately, the Procks just made this list.

Lawrence County District Attorney Errek Jett says the situation is on dry land. The Procks screwed it up – big time.

“Although an officer can exercise discretion,” Jett said, “there is no provision under Alabama law that allows the possession of marijuana if the individual is from a state where it is lawful. Possession of marijuana is illegal under our laws. A similar situation occurs when one of our citizens has a permit to carry pistols but, for example, travels to New York. In this situation, the citizen of Alabama has committed an offense under the laws of New York state. “

RELATED: How to Not Get Blasted While Smuggling Marijuana Into a Prohibition State

Americans need to understand that just because marijuana is becoming more legal in parts of the country, they won’t necessarily be safe from law enforcement. State marijuana laws only apply to the state. Traveling across state lines with marijuana is technically a violation of federal law. Make no mistake, there are still plenty of opportunities for citizens to get trapped in the criminal justice system over weed. That probably won’t change until the federal government legalizes it nationwide and gives more states the green light for similar measures.

Sure, it’s more than likely that good ol boy states like Alabama will be the last to change their marijuana laws. Still, lifting the federal ban would at least support the argument that their diabolical commitment to criminalizing marijuana offenders is stupid.

Obviously none of this will help the Procks get their child back. But their story could prevent more citizens from suffering a similar fate. Know the marijuana laws. It is best to leave the weed at home when traveling. While marijuana is legal in your final destination, it is definitely not in the eyes of the federal government and may not be in neighboring states. Either that or keep a real shark from a lawyer. Because if you get caught for pot in most places, you’re going to need one.