Marijuana use is legal in Colorado, but it’s important to understand that you could be accused of a drug crime in the state if you are driving while under the influence. How can it be proven, though? The tests aren’t the same as for alcohol, and it can be hard to prove that you were impaired.
Impaired driving can be more than just driving under the influence of alcohol, and the terminology must change as marijuana is legalized in the country. One summit in the news has been focusing on legalized marijuana and what it could mean for impaired driving rates.
The summit discussed ways to deal with drivers found to be under the influence of the legalized drugs. It has been encouraging the collection of more information on cannabis-impaired driving since the legalization of the drug in several U.S. states.
So far, the facts have shown that blood tests, which are usually used to show when a person has been driving under the influence, are useless when it comes to testing for cannabis. It’s hard to set legal limits for the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), because everyone reacts differently to it. It also remains in the body, and detectable, long after the effects disappear.
As of now, the police use drug recognition exams when trying to detect impairment by drugs, but as marijuana becomes more commonplace in the culture, this won’t be enough and new tools will need to be used. If you are charged with driving while under the influence of marijuana, it’s essential to see experienced legal guidance.
Source: Press Herald, “Impaired-driving summit to focus on marijuana,” Gillian Graham, May 16, 2016