Georgia State Troopers Discover Over 30 Pounds of Marijuana During Routine Traffic Stop

According to authorities in Newton County, Georgia State Patrol Troopers pulled a car over on I-20 for illegal window tint and ended up discovering over $80,000 in marijuana. 

The officers made a routine traffic stop and identified the driver as Allen Harris. One of the troopers observed two large cardboard FedEx boxes in the back of his vehicle. Harris allegedly behaved suspiciously and made various inconsistent statements about the boxes. 

This led to a search by a drug dog where the troopers found 32 pounds of suspected marijuana. 

As of now, Harris has been charged with marijuana trafficking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and Possession of Marijuana in Georgia. 

As a Georgia DUI Attorney, I will focus on the law behind a possession of marijuana charge in Georgia as it's a common charge to either a DUI or a DUI Drugs in Georgia. 

Possession of Marijuana in Georgia

The Georgia Code states:

It is unlawful for any person to possess, have under his or her control, manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, purchase, sell, or possess with intent to distribute marijuana. O.C.G.A. §16-13-30(j).

Possession of Marijuana is generally considered a misdemeanor charge if you are found in possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. However, if you are found in possession of more than an ounce of marijuana it is generally considered a felony charge.

Practice Note

It is also worth nothing that there is such a thing as a DUI Marijuana in Georgia. Most people think that the only way to get a DUI is if you're intoxicated by alcohol. This is not true - there are many different substances that can qualify a driver for a DUI.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a DUI in Georgia, contact a Georgia DUI Lawyer today.