You need to talk to a lawyer ASAP.
You also need to punch your friend in the face for being a jackass and making it worse.
Unfortunately BL doesn't allow legal questions so this will be closed shortly.
but..... but aren't you a mod, monk? Are you not able to use your modstick outside of DC? But....
since this thread hasn't been closed..
The penalties for a Class B Misdemeanor will depend on the state. In general a misdemeanor is a non-indictable offense that doesn't carry prison time but can result in a jail sentence - although most are settled by a fine and a short term of probation.
OP there should be a deferred judgement program in your state where you plead something similar to "no contest" then they put you on probation for 3-12 months and as long as you do not violate the contract you can avoid getting a conviction on your record.
good luck
Pretty much what sigmond said. Getting in trouble with the law can be scary for anyone, and usually IS the first time for EVERYONE that goes through it.
You'll be charged and tried (if it gets as far as a trial, which, if you lawyer up, I doubt a first criminal charge for an 18year old for marijuana - less than 10g would even get you to a trial. My money's on a lawyer setting up a deal, but you're friend's almost definitely going to court thanks to his dumb ass riding around with you with over an ounce on his person) but you'll be charged and tried separately. This isn't a RICO case we're talking about here.
PM me for more personal experience info if you're interested and able to... I'm not sure if greenlighters can use the private message function yet.
My advice: Get a lawyer (not a public defender-- some are good, but they're employed by the same people that employ the prosecutor trying to send you to jail. Conflict of interest to a T, in my opinion), be 100% honest with your lawyer, and have him do his job. Like I said, as a first charge this is probably really fucking with your head, but it's a misdemeanor and has the
potential to not even go as far as prosecution, meaning instead of a conviction your record would show the words "Nolo Prosequi," which mean you got arrested but they decided not to pursue the case for whatever reason. Good lawyers are amazing at getting slight weed possession charges reduced or thrown out.
You could technically follow Sigmond's advice on your own two feet without the help of a lawyer, but it's always good to have someone in your corner who's already got their feet wet and may have a few favors/connections in the courthouse.
Again, though, this is all
my personal experience, which is why everyone's saying BL doesn't allow these questions and the thread will be closed shortly. No one wants the guilt on their conscience of giving heartfelt advice to a guy that follows it word-for-word and ends up doing 15-20... which is why it's imperative you get some counsel and prepare yourself going into it. You might think you're overdoing it, but the peace of mind is worth it at the end of the day.
[EDIT: ALSO ALSO ALSO ALSO NEVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER just GIVE UP criminal evidence to a police officer, even if you think he's being honest. Smell is not probable cause to instigate a search (at least in my state, another reason why legal discussion is not allowed.) In my state, they smell weed and they
detain you, pull the same shit they pulled with you, and if no one falls for the bait then they call in a K9 to run around the car to indicate for drugs. They do this because an officer's nose is
not admissible evidence in court-- it's a personal experience. They can testify in court that they smelled a smell, but testimony
is not evidence. That's why they have trained drug-detecting K9s and chemical labs to analyze a substance before trial.
The second you handed over your .5g you gave him all the right in the world to tear the car apart looking for whatever else he thought he might be able to find. Had you not handed it over, a K9 unit would be called. With any luck, one won't be immediately available and there does reach a point where it's illegal to detain a driver without arresting them simply to force them to wait for a K9 unit to arrive. With a TON of luck, a K9 will show up and you'll have hot-boxed your car with so many cigarettes in the meantime that they won't be able to get within a couple feet of the car with huffing into an asthmatic reaction. (I've seen that one happen. Wasn't the intention to hurt the dogs lung but we had mushies that we were NOT going down for.)]