Best & Worst Places to Smoke Weed in Missouri

Here are the best and worst places to smoke weed in Missouri if you want to avoid marijuana or drug paraphernalia possession charges:

WORST PLACES TO SMOKE WEED IN MISSOURI:

In Your Apartment – your neighbors can smell the marijuana smoke coming from your apartment and may call the police

Camping at a State Park – park rangers patrol campsites and can issue tickets for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Your case will be prosecuted in state court, which is much more strict than if your case were in municipal court.

On a Float Trip – park rangers patrol the rivers and sandbars and issue tickets for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Your case will be prosecuted in state court.

At a Park – police patrol parks because it’s a common place where people go to sit in their cars and smoke marijuana at night

In a Car Parked on the Street at Night – nearby homeowners will call the police if they see an unfamiliar car parked on their street at night and they suspect criminal activity

At the St. Louis Arch – the Arch is a national monument located in a national park, so if you get caught with weed or a pipe, your criminal charges will be prosecuted in federal court instead of state court or municipal court

In the Parking Lot Before a Concert at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis – plain clothes police officers patrol the parking lot before concerts and issue numerous tickets to people who don’t realize everyone can see (and smell) them smoking weed in their car

Driving in Your Car – don’t drive if you are high or feeling buzzed. You could crash your car and injure yourself or others, and you could be charged with DUID (driving under the influence of drugs), possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

BEST PLACE TO SMOKE WEED IN MISSOURI:

In the privacy of your own home.

GENERAL TIPS FOR MARIJUANA SMOKERS:

• Having a prescription for medical marijuana from a state in which marijuana is legal will not help if you get caught with weed in Missouri, where it is illegal.
• After smoking marijuana, shower and change clothes before leaving home or driving in your car. If you are pulled over by a cop and they smell weed when you roll down the car window, the cop can search your car without your consent and without a warrant.
• Don’t hide weed or a pipe in your luggage or on your body if you are flying somewhere. If TSA agents find your one-hitter or baggie of weed in your luggage or on your body, you can be charged with possession of marijuana or paraphernalia, and the criminal charges against you could be prosecuted in federal, state, or municipal court.

Jail Time is a Possible Punishment for Misdemeanor Marijuana Possession in Missouri

The maximum potential penalty for misdemeanor (35 grams or less) possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia in Missouri is a $1,000 fine and 1 year in jail.

It is highly unlikely that you will face any jail time if you hire an attorney to represent you for your misdemeanor drug charges. 

Drug-Related Convictions Stay On Your Criminal Record Forever

Drug convictions stay on your criminal record forever and can not be “expunged” (removed). If you plead guilty to charges of marijuana or drug paraphernalia possession, you will have a very hard time finding a job, renting an apartment, or getting federal student loans for college.

In addition, you could lose your federally subsidized housing if you are convicted of a drug-related misdemeanor.

Hire a Lawyer to Get Your Drug Charges Dismissed or Reduced to a Lesser Offense

Hire an experienced marijuana possession attorney to get your drug charges dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense, such as “Littering.”

The outcome of your case depends on 1) which court your case is being prosecuted in and 2) whether you have prior drug-related convictions on your criminal record.

Your attorney will negotiate a plea bargain deal with the Prosecutor to get your drug charges dismissed or amended to a lesser offense. It is very likely that you will not have to appear in court, and the court will give you at least 30 days to pay fines and court costs.