Nearly 7 out of 10 Americans nationwide support legalizing marijuana according to a recent Gallup poll in November 2021. This represents a five-fold increase since the company starting tracking support in 1969. The underlying data shows solid majorities of adults in major subgroups (gender, age, income and education level) support legalization.
On October 13, 2021 GRL Law’s own Colin Murphy spoke before a packed room of cannabis activists at the ISU Memorial Union. The presentation for NORML ISU focused on the current status of marijuana and cannabis extracts. Colin discussed what not to do during traffic stops. He also reviewed important driver rights to assert during detention and arrest. GRL’s firm culture emphasizes public outreach especially when it comes to emerging legal issues like cannabis. Our attorneys regularly take part in educating the general public, criminal defense bar and bench. Presentations like this are what sets GRL Law apart as the […]
On September 16, 2021 Colin Murphy presented at the annual Iowa Association for Justice Criminal Law Seminar in Iowa City. The presentation focused on the current legal status of cannabis extracts. In particular, Colin demonstrated how defense attorneys can defend against marijuana charges involving extracts such as CBD, medical cannabidiol and delta-8 THC. The firm takes great pride in helping to educate both the bench and bar on emerging legal issues. GRL Law. We know hemp.
When it comes to possession charges for out-of-state medical marijuana, you should look no further than GRL Law. Many prosecutors will charge these possession offenses under Iowa Code section 124.401(5). This effectively treats medical marijuana like a street drug rather than a therapeutic purchased at a licensed dispensary. Most attorneys who dabble in criminal defense accept this framing and go to work negotiating a mandatory minimum plea or deferred judgment. Not GRL Law. We won’t rest without fighting to get the charges dismissed. How do you choose the right attorney for this specialized possession charge in Iowa? Just ask them […]
Another year, another flurry of legislative activity regarding the decriminalization of marijuana in Iowa. The latest iteration introduced today in the Judiciary Committee is SF 406. There is certainly plenty to like in the bill. Simple possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana flower is legal. Accommodation of up to an ounce without remuneration? Legal. Gatherings? Again, legal. Retail marijuana cultivation and sales permitted. But the Iowa legislature continues to overlook one critical issue. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level. So, the specter of federal prohibition and prosecution continues to be ever present. Yes, […]
The drug defense attorneys at GRL have blogged before on the pitfalls of being stopped by police with marijuana in your personal vehicle. Fortunately, Iowa no longer suspends your driving privileges for drug convictions. Does this mean you can keep personal use quantities in the sleeper area of a semi truck? In a word, no. Not unless, of course, you are looking to have your CDL privileges disqualified for six months. That’s right. You will lose your privilege to drive a commercial motor vehicle if convicted of most simple possession offenses. Marijuana, amphetamines or any narcotic drug will do the […]
Garner, Hancock County, Iowa. After successfully vacating two convictions through post-conviction relief efforts [more on that here], the drug defense attorneys at GRL Law accomplished what former trial counsel was simply unable to do years ago: develop reasonable doubt that our client committed any felony offense involving marijuana or marijuana edibles. Our aggressive pre-trial discovery efforts raised serious questions regarding whether the alleged victim was duped into consuming chocolate containing THC. On the contrary, it appeared instead that she pilfered clearly-labeled marijuana edibles from our client’s personal belongings without permission. Only after she knowingly ate her way into a hazy […]
Greenfield, Adair County, Iowa. The drug defense attorneys at GRL Law prevailed again today by successfully securing a court order for the return of over-the-counter cannabidiol (CBD) products seized by local law enforcement. The estimated retail value of these CBD products exceeded $3,000, which is believed to be the largest seizure of its kind in Adair County. The original basis for the seizure was the erroneous belief that our client was operating an unlicensed “medical cannabidiol” dispensary under Iowa Code Chapter 124E. Medical cannabidiol in Iowa contains both concentrated CBD and THC extracted from marijuana and is heavily regulated by […]
Garner, Hancock County, Iowa. The drug defense attorneys at GRL Law successfully raised and litigated a claim of actual innocence resulting in the district court setting aside a felony conviction from 2017. Prior counsel advised our client to plead guilty to a felony charge of administering marijuana edibles to another in violation of Iowa Code section 708.5 despite the fact that she consistently maintained her innocence throughout the investigative, plea change and sentencing phases of the case. The firm raised numerous grounds on which the district court could have certainly found her trial counsel ineffective. We were able to clearly […]
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory recently updated its policies regarding Cannabis testing in light of the 2018 Farm Bill, S.F. 599 and H.F. 2581. Under the new laws, cannabis containing less than 0.3% total THC (Δ9-THC + THCA) is considered hemp. Hemp extracts, including CBD, are no longer controlled substances under state and federal law. The drug identification section is now capable of performing semi-quantitative testing of plant material to determine the total THC amount. The method of analysis mirrors that used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. If the sample exceeds 0.3%, then the substance will […]
