Marijuana has been used for centuries by people around the world. Even though it has been found to be less harmful than legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco, and it also has a variety of medical benefits, it has been classified as an illegal controlled substance. Because of this, many people have been charged with drug crimes related to the possession or distribution of marijuana. However, attitudes surrounding marijuana use have been changing, and in many parts of the United States, it has been legalized for medical and recreational purposes. In the future, North Carolina could follow the example of other states and approve the drug for legal use in the state.

New Marijuana Laws Introduced by North Carolina Lawmakers

Several bills have recently been introduced in the North Carolina state legislature that could legalize marijuana possession and use by adults. House Bill 626 would allow people over the age of 21 to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, 15 grams of concentrated cannabis, products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC, or six cannabis plants. It would also allow for the sale and on-site consumption of marijuana at licensed businesses, and it would provide automatic expungement of criminal records for those who were convicted of marijuana offenses that would no longer be crimes following the passage of the law. This bill is currently being considered by North Carolina House of Representatives committees.

Senate Bill 346 would make similar changes to North Carolina law. It contains the same provisions for the amount of marijuana adults would be able to possess, as well as automatic expungement of previous marijuana offenses and the prohibition of driving while under the influence of marijuana. However, it would also allow for the use of medical marijuana by people who receive registry identification cards after being certified by a doctor as having a condition that could benefit from the use of cannabis. This bill is currently being considered by the North Carolina Senate committees.

 Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol is something that few people would admit to doing. However, studies suggest as many as one in four people have driven under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Some DWI arrests are the result of a poor decision while other times, faulty breath testing devices or other issues lead to an unjustified DWI arrest. 

If you were charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), you may also be very nervous about the consequences you face for your actions. While this is natural, it is also important to know that the legal consequences for something like a DWI are rarely set in stone. The advocacy of a great attorney can help you fight the charges and possibly even get them dropped. 

What Can an Attorney Do in My Defense? 

Depending on the facts of the case, an attorney has several options available for fighting the charges. These include, but are not limited to: 

While North Carolina may not have a national reputation for being a hotspot of gang violence, large numbers of gangs are active in the state - well over a thousand by some counts. In 2018 and then again in 2020, members of the United Blood Nation were put into prison for crimes such as drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession, wire fraud, and committing other crimes using weapons. 

These are serious crimes with serious consequences, but not all gangs or groups are involved in criminal activity, and it may only be natural for a young person who is curious about a gang, or the parents of a young person who has shown interest in gang membership, to wonder if simply being in a gang is against the law in North Carolina. 

Is Being a Gang Member Illegal? 

In North Carolina, simply being a gang member is not against the law. However, whether someone gets in trouble for conduct committed as part of a gang is a much more important question. North Carolina has laws in place that are specially designed to punish gang activity. 

If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter in North Carolina, you can bet that prosecutors will be motivated to put you behind bars. In the face of the charges against you, it may be tempting to simply give up; after all, surely no prosecutor would bring an unwinnable case of murder or manslaughter without evidence, right? Wrong. Prosecutors can be so eager to make it look like they are punishing someone responsible for murder that they might bring a weak case or even bring a case against the wrong person. When this happens to you, you need help from a North Carolina criminal defense attorney who will help you fight to stay out of prison and continue living your life. 

How Can a Lawyer Help Someone Accused of Murder? 

It may seem like the charges against you are hopeless, but with a great defense attorney, there is always a strategy for trying to beat the charges. Your attorney will carefully look at your case and, using the facts, the prosecutor’s evidence, and your own testimony, try to create the best defense possible. Among the defenses your attorney may use are: 

• Self-defense - North Carolina has a so-called “Stand Your Ground” law that allows citizens to exercise their legal right to defend themselves without having to first retreat. If you reasonably believed that lethal force was necessary to protect yourself or someone else from imminent bodily harm or death, especially if you are at home, in your car, or at work, the right to self-defense can be a powerful defense option. 
• Mistaken identity - If you have been confused with someone else and been wrongfully identified as the perpetrator of a murder, you will need to prove that you have an alibi or that the person identifying you is wrong. 
• Insanity - When someone’s mental state makes them unable to distinguish between right and wrong, understand the consequences of a crime, or plan ahead to commit the kind of crime they have been accused of (such as first-degree murder), insanity may be an appropriate defense. 
• Accidental death - People have been killed in tragic accidents, even by seemingly minor actions like playing a prank on a friend. If you had no criminal intent to cause someone else harm and are not guilty of criminal negligence, you may be able to avoid murder charges by claiming it was an accident. 

Call a Raleigh, North Carolina Murder Defense Attorney Now

If you or a loved one have been charged with any kind of murder or manslaughter, do not delay - get legal assistance right away from an aggressive, experienced Wake County homicide defense attorney with Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC. We fight passionately for our clients’ rights and have a proven track record of obtaining results in every area of our practice. Call us now at 1-844-YO-PELEO to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Hablamos Español.

Even with the best criminal defense attorney, it is not always possible to avoid convictions for crimes. An unfortunate feature of our criminal justice system is that a criminal record often makes someone continue to pay for their crimes, sometimes long after that person has paid back their debt to society. Worse, even being arrested for or charged with a crime without being convicted can have the same effect. If you have a criminal record and are wondering whether you can get it wiped clean, speak with a North Carolina criminal defense attorney with experience in record expungement. 

How Can I Get My Criminal Record Expunged? 

It is important to note that North Carolina law uses the term “expunction” rather than “expungement,” but that these terms mean exactly the same thing and can be used interchangeably. An expunction is the erasure of a criminal record by order of a judge. After a criminal record has been expunged, the person for whom it was expunged can honestly say that they have not committed that crime (with exceptions for certain immigration purposes). 

The criminal records that can generally be expunged in North Carolina include, but are not limited to: