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Possession of less than an ounce of Marijuana has been “decriminalized.” Also, possession of marijuana with a valid “medical marijuana” card has been legalized under Massachusetts law. However, marijuana still remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law.
If you are convicted of a marijuana related offense such as criminal possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, distribution, trafficking, or cultivation, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will automatically impose a license suspension. This is because the Massachusetts Drug Law, G.L. c. 94C, requires MassDOT to automatically suspend your driver’s license or right to operate whenever a Massachusetts, Federal, or even out of state court notifies the Registry’s Court Records or Suspension Department of the drug conviction. The RMV imposes these suspensions automatically, usually within 10 days of notification from the courts. In most cases, notification is automatic and done via a computer connection between the Clerk-Magistrates’ offices and the Mass RMV. Notification can also be accomplished by the submission of paper abstracts or faxes to the Massachusetts Registry’s Merit Rating Board in Quincy.
Once notification of a marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other drug conviction is made, including convictions for Class A, B, C, D, and E controlled substances, which are classified under the Mass. Controlled Substance Act, G.L. c. 94C, action against your license or right to operate will be initiated.
If you have received a letter from the Registry of Motor Vehicles regarding the suspension of your license or right to drive from the Registry, you must cease operation of all motor vehicles in Massachusetts, regardless of whether or not you have a license issued by any other state. Also, no appeal of your drug suspension will prevent it from going into effect. If you are caught driving while suspended, you risk being arrested and if you are convicted you will have an additional loss of license which may disqualify you from hardship relief.
I have been very successful in appealing drug suspensions and obtaining full license reinstatements as well as 12 hour hardship licenses for qualified clients who have a valid need to drive. If you have lost your license due to a drug conviction, I urge you to contact me for legal representation. You may be able to get your full license back or a work license which allows you to drive for 12 hours each day, 7 days a week.
If you have received a civil citation for possession of less than one (1) ounce of Marijuana, this will not be reported to the Registry as conviction and you will not lose your Massachusetts Driver’s License or right to drive. However, other drug convictions, including criminal convictions involving marijuana, will result in the Registry taking action against your license.