Trinity County is located in California’s northwestern section. The county’s terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous, with vast expanses of forests strewn along the Trinity River. Located in the heart of the Salmon-Klamath Mountains, Trinity County spans an area more than two million acres wide. The population of the county was estimated at approximately 13,786 during the 2010 census, which is a slight increase from the population of 13,022 estimated during the 2000 census. The largest town in Trinity County is Weaverville, which also serves as the seat of the county.
Possession and Cultivation of Marijuana in Trinity County
At present, the maximum amount of marijuana that can be possessed by authorized individuals is 6 mature plants or 12 immature plants and 8 ounces of bud. This is the result of a measure passed on June 2008, and represents a less tolerant policy compared to the previous allowable possession amount of 3 pounds of dried, processed marijuana and the cultivation of 12 mature plants and/or 24 immature plants. The previous policy was passed on September 2007 and is no longer in effect. The unauthorized cultivation of marijuana in Trinity County may carry a 16-month prison sentence.
Trinity County is also subject to California marijuana laws that decriminalized the possession of marijuana for unauthorized individuals (ie. those who are not medical marijuana patients or caregivers of medical marijuana patients). For these individuals, the possessions of 28.5 grams of marijuana or less is a mere civil infraction that warrants only a $100 fine. However, possession of marijuana in excess of 28.5 grams is a criminal offense for which the offender may face a 6-month jail term and a $500 fine.
California’s Marijuana Distribution Law
The sale of marijuana by unauthorized individuals is illegal under California law, and this applies to Trinity County residents as well. This is a felony offense that carries a 2- to 4-year prison sentence, which is increased to 3 to 5 years if the marijuana is sold to a minor.