Individuals who have permission their healthcare provider and the state of Colorado to use marijuana to treat a medical condition are not exempt from the state’s DUI laws. If any substance has impaired your ability to operate a motor vehicle —from alcohol, to marijuana, to prescription medication — it is illegal for you to be driving. This includes substances have been prescribed by a doctor or legally purchased. As of 2012, there is a specific amount of active tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, you can have in your bloodstream before being legally over the limit. Colorado law specifies that drivers with five nanograms of THC in their whole blood can be prosecuted for driving under the influence (DUI).
The Importance of Responsible Consumption
Safe transportation infrastructure is essential for emergency first responders and freight drivers as Colorado navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, road maintenance and construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced guidelines for construction activities. The public is urged to join the campaign for #DoingMyPartCO by practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, staying at home when possible, and avoiding nonessential travel.
The agency is currently developing a series of PSAs based on a concept vetted and chosen by the public. CDOT continues to work closely with dispensary companies, a trusted voice for consumers, with in-store educational collateral and budtender training. The state is also making strides in more cooperative and comprehensive data collection. Many factors play a role in determining how long the impairing effects of THC take to wear off.
Challenging the Traffic Stop
- Read «Want to know more about cannabis and driving? Ask your budtender» to learn more.
- This includes substances have been prescribed by a doctor or legally purchased.
- With that in mind, road maintenance and construction continues on CDOT projects with social distancing and other health safety measures to reduce COVID-19 exposure on the worksite.
- Everyone from marijuana use advocates to law enforcement professionals strongly discourage the use of marijuana while operating machinery, including an automobile.
- However, driving while impaired by marijuana is still illegal and is subject to the state’s DUI laws.
Beyond the legal penalties, a DUI or DWAI conviction can have significant impacts on other areas of your life. You may face higher premiums or even difficulty obtaining coverage altogether. This comprehensive guide from our DUI lawyer at the Law Office of Lori J. Crystal, LLC explores the legal framework, defenses, and implications of driving stoned in Colorado. Read «Want to know more about cannabis and driving? Ask your budtender» to learn more.
The research even shows that users are more likely to drive what happens when you mix cannabis and alcohol colorado department of transportation (or take other risks) after using both substances than after consuming marijuana alone. As 4/20 approaches, prioritizing road safety amid cannabis celebrations is paramount. Utilizing available resources, planning alternative transportation, and understanding the nuances of impairment are vital steps.
New CDOT survey data reveals significant knowledge gaps about driving high
The legal threshold is five nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood. The reason for this caveat in the law is because THC affects everyone differently. While five nanograms may no be enough to impair one individual’s ability to drive, as little as two nanograms may be enough to render another person completely unable to drive. The legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado has brought about significant changes in various facets of daily life, including driving laws. While marijuana use is legal, it remains illegal to drive under its influence.
Cannabis and Driving: Data and Research
- Refusing to submit to a blood test can result in immediate penalties, including an automatic license suspension.
- Additionally, blood tests occur post-DUI arrest, based on visible impairment signs.
- Responses showed a high level of awareness that you can get a DUI for driving impaired by cannabis.
- Beyond the legal penalties, a DUI or DWAI conviction can have significant impacts on other areas of your life.
- Learn more about the dangers and consequences of driving high by visiting DriveHighDUI.com.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has been gathering feedback from budtenders and cannabis industry employees over the past three years. Nearly 1,000 responses were gathered and analyzed, discussing the misconceptions of cannabis and driving. Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC, CBD, CBN, CBG and others are all available in Colorado.
Even if you’re not purchasing products in a dispensary, there’s still a chance they can affect your ability to drive. In Colorado, the typical cannabis cigarette product or joint contains approximately 0.5 grams of cannabis, which means consuming about 60 mg to 115 mg of THC. The standard serving size for a cannabis edible is 5 mg to 10 mg. However, consuming similar amounts of THC in edibles will typically have stronger effects than if smoked. If chemical tests or field sobriety tests were used against you when you were charged with DUI, speak to your DUI lawyer. Our DUI lawyer at the Law Office of Lori J. Crystal, LLC can help.
Specially trained Drug Recognition Experts can provide insights about the level of impairment. While marijuana is legal in Colorado, responsible consumption is vital to public safety. Driving under the influence of marijuana not only endangers the driver but also other road users. By understanding the laws, recognizing the effects of marijuana on driving, and taking precautions, individuals can enjoy marijuana responsibly without putting themselves or others at risk. Glenn Davis is the highway safety manager in the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Highway Safety Office.
THC is the chemical in marijuana that produces a “high.” Use of THC —whether eaten, smoked, or vaped — causes poor muscle coordination and delayed reaction times. Everyone from marijuana use advocates to law enforcement professionals strongly discourage the use of marijuana while operating machinery, including an automobile. Unlike alcohol, cannabis isn’t metabolized in a uniform way or on a predictable timeline—whether you’re smoking or consuming edibles, your tolerance and other factors all play a role. The subjective experience of cannabis impairment also varies wildly.
Limits placed on truck traffic over historic Colorado bridge
68% of individuals with detected Delta-9 THC also had some other substance present. CDOT said hundreds of people asked about the «legal limits of cannabis,» how law enforcement determines roadside impairment, and even showed open-container laws in Colorado were either unknown or misunderstood. Driving under the influence of cannabis puts you, your loved ones and other roadway users at risk. In 2024, 199 roadway fatalities in Colorado involved impaired driving. Respondents also expressed surprise — and noted as highly important information — that you are at risk of a DUI even if you’re under the “legal limit” for Blood Alcohol Content and THC. Cannabis combined with alcohol significantly increases impairment.
If you are pulled over while under the influence of marijuana and the police suspect you are too impaired to be operating a motor vehicle, the officer on duty may require you to take a blood test. Refusal to submit to a blood test request can result in similar penalties as refusing a breathalyzer test, among them temporary loss of your driver’s license. As the wave of legalization continues to roll across the U.S., more people are embracing cannabis. And while cannabis has arguably gained mainstream acceptance, driving high has not, thankfully. In a 2022 Colorado survey, 85 percent of cannabis consumers said they do not drive after partaking.
The average cost of a DUI in Colorado can reach or exceed $13,500. The commitment to avoid alcohol for the first month of the year is a common New Year’s resolution. Like many people across the country, many Coloradans participate. And some of them choose cannabis as an alternative to alcohol. Learn more about the dangers and consequences of driving high by visiting DriveHighDUI.com.