What about Children?
POSSESSION BY TATIANA MELENDEZ
Many teenagers try marijuana and hate it, while others use it regularly. Teenage marijuana use is at its highest level in thirty years, and today's teens are more likely to use marijuana than tobacco. Many states allow recreational use of marijuana in adults ages twenty-one and over. Unfortunately, recreational marijuana use by children and teenagers is not legal anywhere in the United States; we can't forget that marijuana is easier to get than ever before. Before jumping into Oklahoma's green wave, I worked in child welfare for many years. I worked for Children and Family Services, then started working for a nonprofit organization that provides a support network to parents and families of all missing children. I loved working with all types of children/teens/young adults and did my best to value the rights of children and families and a safe environment for children. Unfortunately, I saw cases of juveniles being screwed by the system and receiving minimal to no help and instances that rang victory. However, drugs were nearly the center of the problems at ninety percent. Because marijuana has become more available than when we were kids, children and teenagers tend to abuse it more, leading to longterm consequences. However, teens rarely think they will end up with problems related to marijuana use, so it is important to begin talking about the risks with your teen early. Such a risk is called - juvenile drug possession. Juvenile drug possession occurs whenever a person under eighteen knowingly controls a regulated drug or substance without a legal reason. Possessing illegal substances in this manner is a crime in all states and can lead to harsh penalties for juveniles. Adults caught with controlled substances are charged with a crime and have their cases handled in a regular trial court. Minors, however, are not usually accused of a crime in the same way. Instead, the issue is dealt with in the juvenile court system, where (depending on the state), the case may be handled more informally.
HERE IS A LIST OF SOME –
Drug counseling Juvenile courts typically focus on rehabilitating young people. A juvenile court can order the juvenile offender, as well as his or her parents, to attend drug counseling in hopes of rehabilitating the teen.
Diversion. Also known as a pretrial diversion or informal probation, it is also a common consequence for juvenile drug possession offenders. Just as with probation, a juvenile on diversion must comply with specific court rules. However, instead of the court ordering probation, the youth is allowed to adhere to the diversion orders without formally going before the juvenile court. If the juvenile successfully completes the diversion program, the charges are essentially dismissed. However, not all jurisdictions allow for young diversion programs, and it is usually available for first-time offenders only.
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APRIL 2022
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