So I just got my first ticket. Any advice?

The lowest court in my state has three sides to its jurisdiction. A case has to be traffic, criminal, or civil to be heard. If it does not involve driving in some way or a suit for monetary damages, it gets classified as criminal. As a practical matter, in my rabies shot example, you get a citation, you get your dog vaccinated before the court date, give the Judge a copy of the vaccination certificate, and the charge is dismissed.

As for your example of pot, you would need to have a ton of pot on you or be a frequent face before the judge to get any actual jail time. You don't even get a big fine. $10-$50 plus costs for first offense even though you could technically get up to a year in jail on your first offense for a single joint. State courts are not the problem with pot--the feds can put your behind in federal prison for a single joint if they are so inclined to not give you first offender alternative sentencing options. Our local governments usually just incorporate the state laws as the local statutes for most stuff like that and charge you with the state violation whenever possible because of money. If you qualify for court-appointed counsel (facing 6 months or more), if they charge you under local law, the local government has to pay for your lawyer, but if they charge you under the state code, the state has to pay for your lawyer. If my state were to "de-criminalize" pot, it would only be to lower the max in order to save all the money they pay out on court-appointed lawyers.

 

It is a weak charge. Go to court and plead nolo contendre. Tell them that you were just accelerating to be AT speed when the new limit hit. That this was not covered in driving school or on the test. If it is not dismissed ask to go to traffic school. This will cost you time, not points. All you care about are the points. What was the specific charge? Speeding or reckless driving... and what state?