Drug Class Will Be required for Marijuana-Impaired Drivers

by: Mike Miller
11/16/2018

As states deal with an increasing number of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of marijuana it is imperative to have a legal limit for THC in the bloodstream. This is especially true in the 18 states and Washington DC who have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. It is doubly-true for the two states that have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes – Colorado and Washington.

Colorado has just implemented a legal blood-alcohol concentration for THC in the bloodstream of .05 nanograms. As reported in www.kingmandailyminer.com.

In Arizona, one of the states that has legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes is grappling with the problem. Currently, the confusion over interpretation of the Medical Marijuana Act stems from its inception because prosecutors and police didn't have the chance to weigh in before it went to voters in 2010.

Prosecutors say Arizona law allows motorists who are not impaired to drive with prescription drugs in their system if they are using them under doctors' orders.

The problem for marijuana cardholders is that pot can't be prescribed, only recommended, offering no legal grounds for a motorist to drive with even trace amounts of the drug in their system.

What are your thoughts on the issue? Do you worry about stoned drivers? As a counselor for marijuana based drug classes I assure you that you should be very worried about people driving under the influence of marijuana. A good majority of my students feel that marijuana does not impair their ability to drive.