What does decriminalized really mean?

So right before Halloween I got my crop cut down by the cops I think. Little background: I had just got a new puppy and took him out in the morning for a quick piss before leaving for work. Not used to going out in the morning with the dog I forgot to lock my front door back. I set the alarm and went off to work. I left the house at about 6:30. At about 9:00 I discovered that I had missed a call from my alarm company at 7:30. according to the message the alarm on my front door was going off and they were dispatching the police. I left work immediately to check on the house and of course my plants. By the time I got home the alarm had been silenced and the door was locked I went in the house to look around. Nothing was missing except 12 plants I had going that were about 4 weeks from harvest. Gut wrenching! A form was left on a table stating that the county drug enforcement agency had confiscated 12 marijuana plants. I later got reports from nosy neighbors that a black van and men with gloves had gone into the house and came out with black bags. As of this very moment I have heard nothing from the cops or anyone about the plants. My state has decriminalized marijuana and what I am asking is; does that mean they are just going to take the plants and that's it? Did I maybe just dodge a bullet, or should I be on the lookout for someone to be back. I miss growing and want to get started back up but am super paranoid about the whole situation. Anybody have any ideas?

means you can possess a certain amount of marijuana without getting into any issues with the law.

What state are you in?

Ohio. We are suppose to be getting a vote on medical or recreational either this year or next yer during the major election. Fingers crossed. I would hate to get into legal trouble and then it passes and I could have just been patient and waited.

I can't imagine that 12 flowering plants would fall under a "decriminalized" status. That would draw a serious charge for sure in my state, and probably many others as well. The "deciminalized" laws usually apply only for possession of small amounts of weed.

How did the cops know to look for weed? Did they already suspect you were growing, and used this as an opportunity to search your house? Or did they smell flowering plants inside your house? Or was your grow in an open room?

Get yourself a lawyer and don't say anything to the police. The lawyer will know how to proceed, and might could find out without suspicion if the police plan to press charges against you.

I recommend that you do not call the police yourself to check on your status.

Tiktok said:

Ohio. We are suppose to be getting a vote on medical or recreational either this year or next yer during the major election. Fingers crossed. I would hate to get into legal trouble and then it passes and I could have just been patient and waited.

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up to 100 grams the cops have the option to wrote you a citation instead of mandatory arrest. thats what decriminalization means for you

They will wait awhile to see if ur dumb enough to just fill it all back up.
I wouldnt even consider growing their again.

jesus christ!you lucky son of a bitch! if they didn't stay and wait for your return you're fine.grow like you were before they'll just do the same thing. they did that cuz you aren't on their radar and never have been. they know you don't sell or do any of that and might even know it's for medical. wonderful show of common sense over written law. Go Ohio! you're good to go man grow away

Tiktok said:

Ohio. We are suppose to be getting a vote on medical or recreational either this year or next yer during the major election. Fingers crossed. I would hate to get into legal trouble and then it passes and I could have just been patient and waited.

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If I recall correctly, Ohio law allows up to possession of 100 grams with a maximum of a $100.00 fine (I haven't been to Ohio for 20+ years) You were well beyond 100 Gram. But I may be totally wrong about current law.

Thanks for replying everyone. Yeah the room was unlocked and cracked open to help with heat in the room. Thought the house was locked so didn't have to worry about the grow room being opened. So once they entered the house because of the alarm I assume in the process of making sure it was not a break in they discovered the room.
I had three main plants and had cloned each one three separated times. The clones were flowering but we're small as they went straight into 12/12 when cut. So three full plants and 9 small clones.
I suppose I better not start back up. Sure wish I could though.

I suggest you talk to a lawyer.

Good luck man. Wish you well.

TBoneJack said:

Good luck man. Wish you well.

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Thankyou Tbone. Appreciate the support.

Maybe they never considered any of it useable if it was on the plants still.

potholesbill.com

is this real? I assume it is about Michigan, but I guess it could be any state.

howsitgrowin420 said:

potholesbill.com

is this real? I assume it is about Michigan, but I guess it could be any state.

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He's in Ohio.

Red1966 said:

I suggest you talk to a lawyer.

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And never, ever grow there again unless the laws change.

Red1966 said:

He's in Ohio.

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what a terrible rumor then. Maybe if people spread the rumor and started writing to their AG and GOV's then the rumor would become truth......rumors tanks stocks, after all.

My buddy was pulled over in Ohio and received their 100g ticket even though everything was individually packaged....there were even some edibles in play.

The cop said "hey, I'm going to give you this ticket that you can pay $240 and be done with and I am taking your pot." Buddy said, "sure thing" and then packed his car back up and drove away. Ohio is part of the rust belt and the rust belt is so, so broke that they just want the revenue.

Or, the paranoid in me would tell you to search "smash and grab". Cops in Detroit are loading up into someone's mini van, flashing badges, and taking product, but not filing charges or otherwise reporting it. They think - hey, what are they going to do, call the cops?

Ohio didn't decriminalize marijuana or the cultivation of marijuana. The only change in the last year or 2 has been that they reduced the penalty for possession of marijuana paraphernalia to a Minor Misdemeanor. Cultivation is still illegal if it is one plant or 12 in Ohio. Seems like you either lucked out or they could just be waiting for test results from a lab before they charge you. In Ohio, it is the total weight of the plants and not the number of plants that matters. There was just something in the news about someone getting busted for something like 20 plants in their house. Good luck either way.

I'm thinking that because of the decriminalized law I'm done with the cops. I don't want to contact a lawyer because it's been two months since they came I and I haven't heard anything from them. If they were going to write me a ticket of press some kind of charges I think it would have happened already. I'm almost sure that the way the plants were going this round, not so great, that I was under the 100 grams. Plus like I said I had 4 weeks to go so they hadn't really started plumping up yet. I'm just so paranoid now. This was like my 6th grow and wa going to be my last until the laws panned out. So I'm super pissed that I didn't get a chance to finish it. I'm feeling incomplete right now and want to grow again. If I do just one or two plants and they come back my next penalty according to the law could be a fine of 150.00.

The charge would be cultivation, depending on the total weight it could be an enhanced offense in Ohio. They won't charge you with possession, it is the act of cultivation. Look at the ORC Section 2925.04. It is a Minor Misdemeanor unless your near a school or around juveniles then it is an M-4, it can then be enhanced on the total weight.