If you use marijuana – even if it’s for medicinal purposes – you could be at risk of getting arrested for DUI (driving under the influence). Current California law indicates that no one can drive impaired because of any form of alcohol or drugs.
DUI risks of medical marijuana
This includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Now that medical marijuana is available in many states, including here in California, people are getting arrested for DUI without having any idea that that was a possibility. If you take medical marijuana, here’s what you need to know:
- California law doesn’t indicate how much medical marijuana is permissible to drive. This legal gray area has lead to many false arrests – perhaps blood tests indicated the presence of THC (one of the main active ingredients in marijuana) but the drivers weren’t actually impaired. THC can be present in the blood for days and even weeks after marijuana use, so its mere presence does not automatically constitute intoxication.
- An arrest for a marijuana DUI does not equal a conviction. There are many legal strategies that may prevent conviction in your case. California law states that in order to be convicted, the court must find that you were intoxicated to an extant that you lacked the “ability drive with the caution characteristic of a sober person of ordinary prudence under the same or similar circumstances.” Police officers often misinterpret normal behavior for signs of intoxication – so don’t lose hope if that happened to you.
Get help with a medical marijuana DUI charge now
The best way to secure the ideal outcomes in your medical marijuana case is to contact Attorney Dan Chambers as soon as possible after your arrest. He knows all the ins-and-outs of even the most complex medical marijuana cases, and he’ll start formulating a personalized defense strategy for you as soon as you schedule an initial consultation.
Your first meeting with Attorney Dan Chambers is free. There, he’ll evaluate all the facts of your case and provide you with specific legal advice you can use right away. You can ask any questions you may have about your case as well.
Schedule your free consultation with Attorney Chambers now by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or using the chat box below. Your case isn’t hopeless – get expert assistance now by contacting the Chambers Law Firm.
