Under Amendment 64, which affects only state law, adults in Colorado can grow up to three immature and three mature cannabis plants privately in a secured space. However, even under state law, marijuana cultivation in excess of these amounts is a “drug felony” that can carry a sentence of up to six years in prison. The sentence can be even higher depending on circumstances such as whether the activity is near a school or public housing development, or if the marijuana was transferred to a minor.
In addition, cultivation of marijuana remains a federal offense. Despite the recent Colorado laws regarding medical and recreational marijuana use, the cultivation or distribution of marijuana remains a top priority for police task forces across the state, and is vigorously prosecuted by state and federal authorities.
Marijuana grow-house cases involve the private residential cultivation of marijuana. Both federal and state agents use many methods to search for evidence of marijuana grow houses, such thermal imaging surveillance, drug sniffing dogs, trash searches, and review of public utility bills. Some of these law enforcement tactics may violate a client’s constitutional privacy rights. An experienced criminal defense attorney from The Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. can attack illegal searches and seizures as part of defending a client charged with marijuana cultivation.
Our Denver defense attorneys have defended hundreds of clients facing serious drug crimes in Colorado, and have the experience to investigate whether a stop was legal, examine whether a search violated a client’s Fourth Amendment rights, and attack the credibility of a confidential informant. Our representation also examines all mitigation to lessen the impact of a marijuana cultivation charge.
If you have been charged with marijuana cultivation in Colorado, contact The Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. today for an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney.