DOVER – Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network is hosting a series of free Know Your Rights Seminars, beginning on Wednesday, July 28, at 7 p.m., via Zoom and live streamed on Facebook @DelawareCANorg.  

The first seminar will feature a presentation covering a broad range of topics with a focus on effectively asserting personal freedoms and protections, and individual rights during common interactions with law enforcement, presented by Delaware attorney and Delaware CAN co-founder, Adam Windett. Topics will include privacy rights, first amendment rights, as well as citizens’ rights during traffic stops, search warrants, police questioning and other rights citizens have during police interactions.

Following another delay of the adult use cannabis legalization bill, HB150, Delaware CAN aims to help equip citizens with the education of how to safely and lawfully assert one’s rights, especially when it comes to potential law enforcement encounters for cannabis possession. 

Part two of the series, How to Fight a Cannabis Case, will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m., and will cover criminal proceedings, right to counsel and effective techniques to successfully fight a cannabis case without having to hire an attorney. The third event will be an Expungement and Pardon Seminar held on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. 

According to data from the Delaware Statistical Analysis Center, possession only cannabis offenses have increased 127% post-decriminalization, and make up 52% of all drug court filings, with cannabis offenses occurring more than a hundred times a week, on average. While decriminalization has led to around 60% of those offenses resulting in a civil citation, citizens are still forced to submit to detentions, investigations and searches, seizure of property, and potentially be arrested, simply for possessing personal amounts of cannabis or cannabis product.  

Currently, 18 states, including many of the mid-Atlantic regional states have already removed criminal and civil penalties for possession and legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older. While the First State has had an active legalization bill in the legislature since 2017, Delaware will have to wait until 2022 before the legislation can be rescheduled for a vote.

Participants can register for the free Know Your Rights presentation online  or view the live stream on Delaware CAN’s Facebook Page @DelawareCANorg.