Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 in 2013, which made recreational marijuana usage legal in the state starting on January 1st, 2014. The legalization of marijuana has had both it’s upsides (tax revenue for education) and downsides (blamed for increases in crime and housing costs). One of the major concerns about legalization was how to prevent drugged driver, or driving while under the influence of marijuana.
What are the legal limits?
Officially, the legal limit for THC in your blood is 5 nanograms. However, right now legal limits don’t matter too much because an officer can arrest you on the suspicion of marijuana usage. Even smelling marijuana is enough cause for an arrest. This is partially due to the fact that officers are still trying to figure out how to effectively test for THC on the roadside. There are a variety of devices in trial, but nothing that’s is as widely in use and relied upon as the breathalyzer.
What kind of charges are there?
Right now the charges for drugged driving are the same as for drunk driving. That means you’ll be at the mercy of the state’s repeat offender laws, too, and could be in danger of losing your license for up to five years along with jail time.
What should you do if charged with drugged driving?
If you have been arrested for drugged driving, it’s important that you contact an experienced DUI lawyer such as Murphy & Price LLP in Colorado Springs. Because of the subjective nature of many drugged driving arrests, you may not have been impaired at all but may have had an officer who thought you were and could thus arrest you. You can fight those charges. Get in touch with our team today to learn more and get a free case consultation.
