While drunk driving is becoming much less common throughout the US as law enforcement policies become more and more strict, marijuana use is becoming more commonplace, and with it, marijuana DUI arrests are happening more frequently.
Murky waters in marijuana DUI cases
The amount of marijuana allowed in one’s system to avoid being charged with a DUI is still a completely open question. However, there’s no doubt that marijuana impacts a driver’s ability to operate the vehicle as well as a sober person would.
While it’s illegal in all states, including California, to drive under the influence of marijuana or any other drug, it can be difficult to distinguish whether someone has marijuana-impaired driving or not. Police officers are specially trained to determine whether someone is under the influence of marijuana, but it can be a subjective evaluation that’s fraught with mistakes.
So how does marijuana affect driving? How does it impair a driver?
There are many ways in which marijuana influences the driver’s ability to safely get from point A to point B. Using marijuana can impair judgment, motor coordination, ability to concentrate, distorted perception, and slow reaction time. This can result in poor speed control, drowsiness, distraction, inability to read road signs accurately, and more. Marijuana use also hampers the ability to recall past experiences to solve pressing problems, which is an essential skill in the event of an emergency situation while driving.
Potential long-term effects
It’s also important to be aware that smoking or otherwise ingesting marijuana can impair driving in the long-term. While most of the effects wear off between 1-3 hours after consumption, there have been studies that indicate that driving impairment can be present up to 24 hours after marijuana use.
Worried about your marijuana DUI?
While all this information is helpful if you haven’t gotten arrested for a marijuana DUI, what about if you have? If you’re dealing with a marijuana DUI right now, your best option is to contact California’s best marijuana DUI defense lawyer, Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm, for a free first consultation. Schedule yours now by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or using the chat box below.
