What to Do If You’re Caught Growing Marijuana?

Unfortunately, in our country, growing marijuana is a very risky hobby—arguably even more extreme than urban climbing or other similar stunts. No matter how careful you are, mistakes can happen, and you need to be prepared for the possibility of getting caught. So, what should you do if you get busted and the police show up while your plants are in bloom?

Stay Calm!

In any critical situation, keeping a cool head is your best ally. Many people make things worse by panicking, which leads to poor decisions. On the other hand, there are plenty of cases where staying calm has saved people. Remember: if the police have already broken in with a search warrant, the worst has already happened. It’s normal to be afraid—everyone is, unless they’re a cop themselves. The key is not to let fear paralyze you or break your will to defend yourself.

How can you mentally prepare for a bad scenario? Prepare in advance. Imagine in detail that you’ve already been caught. In fact, treat it as inevitable. A healthy dose of fatalism can be helpful. Think through how you’ll act, what you’ll do and say. This method helps me personally, and it might help you too.

What Does the Law Say?

It’s not as terrifying as it seems (with some important caveats). If you’re growing fewer than 20 plants, this falls under Article 10.5.1 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (illegal cultivation of plants containing narcotic or psychotropic substances or their precursors). Surprisingly, the penalty is just a fine of 1,500 to 4,000 rubles, or up to 15 days of administrative arrest (at the judge’s discretion).

But here’s the catch: you must not have any dried (or any) marijuana on hand. So, get rid of fallen leaves and any plant debris daily. You’re dealing with a dangerous and cunning opponent. It’s also wise to regularly clean your apartment and wash the grow box walls, as forensic experts can collect enough crumbs or pollen to charge you. Keep this in mind!

It’s smarter not to grow more than 20 plants. Otherwise, you’re looking at Article 231 of the Russian Criminal Code, which carries a minimum fine of 300,000 rubles and a maximum of 8 years in prison.

It’s crucial that the police record in the protocol that they found live, uncut plants. If they find dried or cut plants, Article 228 kicks in (which everyone knows is much more serious). We’ll discuss their tricks below.

Get a Lawyer

Remember: having a personal lawyer isn’t just something from American movies or a luxury—it’s a necessity in Russia, even if you’re squeaky clean. Life is unpredictable. Find a good criminal defense lawyer. They’re easy to find in any city—unfortunately, crime is common, and everyone needs protection (though not all lawyers are as good as Saul Goodman). Be careful, though; some lawyers work with the police. Research your candidate, ask around, and Google them. If they’re shady, you’ll find out.

A useful resource is the “Rospravosudie” website, where you can see what cases your lawyer has handled and their outcomes. While most verdicts in Russia are guilty, you can still judge a lawyer by their personal stats—did they really fight for their clients or just sit there agreeing with the prosecutor?

Once you’ve found a suitable lawyer, how do you approach them? Don’t just say, “Hey, I grow marijuana, will you be my lawyer?” Instead, book a consultation for a made-up reason (but be careful—good lawyers can see through people). After the consultation, say you’re worried about the lawlessness in the country and ask if they can be your defense attorney “just in case.” Get their business card or emergency contact. This contact will be crucial if you ever get in trouble. Try to build a friendly relationship with them—it can only help.

The Search

It usually starts with a search. You won’t know you’re being watched or that a case has been opened against you until it’s too late. It’s a very stressful situation. The police are thorough, like the Gestapo. They’ll probably show up early in the morning (7-8 a.m.) to catch you off guard, making you easier to manipulate and intimidate. Plus, it’s practical for them—they want to finish and file everything properly before the end of the day. Searches are long and tedious (even the cops hate them), and they don’t want to be stuck with you all night.

If you have a reinforced door or they can’t catch you off guard without risking evidence destruction, they’ll use another favorite tactic: waiting quietly until you open the door yourself to go to work or run errands, then grabbing you.

Important!

Immediately and firmly demand the presence of your personal lawyer before the search begins. Do not refuse the search—say you’re not against it and “surrender,” but you want your rights protected. Call your lawyer and calmly explain the situation. The main thing is for them to arrive as soon as possible before the police lose patience.

While waiting for your lawyer, carefully read the court order authorizing the search or inspection. Without this document, the search is illegal.

Next, call friends or acquaintances you trust to act as witnesses. The police will bring their own witnesses—usually police academy cadets or similar types—who will gladly look the other way if something is planted on you. To them, you’re the worst criminal on the planet. It’s crucial that the search starts only in the presence of your lawyer and your own witnesses. This greatly increases your chances. Also, make sure the police don’t wander around your apartment unsupervised. Agree to move from room to room together. Watch their hands! Every member of the search team should be under the watchful eye of your helpers.

How to Behave?

• Do not be rude, disrespectful, or aggressive.
• Don’t raise your voice, argue, or show contempt (they already know how you feel).
• Communicate with dignity, but don’t grovel or try to win sympathy—it won’t work and may even provoke them.
• Most importantly, don’t be afraid. Things can’t get worse than they already are. People adapt quickly, even to being a suspect.

Speak calmly and rationally. Act businesslike, but don’t pretend you’ve been through a dozen searches before. And don’t try to bribe them—you won’t have enough money for the whole team, and they’re probably not there for cash. You can’t help yourself this way, but you can easily get a new criminal charge. If you have a lot of money, consult your lawyer first—they’ll know if and how a bribe might work.

Don’t talk too much! Stick to the point, and even then, be cautious. You have the right to remain silent—Article 51 of the Russian Constitution says no one is required to testify against themselves or their loved ones.

Also, police love to act like they’re your best friends and want to help you: “Yeah, you’re in trouble, but we’re not monsters, we’ll try to help you out.” Don’t fall for it! Their main goal is to make sure you end up behind bars. Everything else is just psychological tactics. Don’t trust, don’t fear, don’t ask—this is the golden rule passed down by generations of prisoners.

What Could Go Wrong?

If your lawyer is with you, probably nothing—the police are unlikely to plant evidence. If not, there are many possibilities. The simplest and most common is to record in their paperwork that they found cut plants instead of live ones. This automatically triggers Article 228 and prison time for you!

Anything Else?

It’s a good idea to study all the legal details in advance so you’re prepared. Read forums where people who’ve been through this share their experiences—there’s a wealth of information, including all the dirty tricks the police use.

What Happens Next?

Afterward, there will be an investigation. If there was no dried marijuana and only a few plants (less than 20), the criminal case will be dropped. Then comes court, an administrative penalty, and you’re free to go. Even if you were caught with some weight, it’s not as bad as it seems. If you have no prior convictions, you won’t go to jail—just a fine and/or a suspended sentence. So, you have one “life” or “save point,” like in a video game.

However, the sad part is that if you get caught, you probably won’t be able to grow again. The police will keep an eye on you for the rest of your life. You’re now a prime target, and next time, nothing will save you from prison.