The legal issues surrounding marijuana laws, driving, and car insurance are enough to leave you dazed and confused.
America's history with marijuana is lengthy and fraught with hiccups. After decades of prohibition, the doorway of decriminalization paved the path for legal pot.
Weed is legal for recreational use in eight states plus DC. 20 states allow medical marijuana, and most of the remaining states decriminalized the drug. More states are currently pushing for full legalization.
The change in legality has led to some growing pains for lawmakers and police. Chief among them is how to handle stoned drivers. Many current testing methods have inherent flaws. Accurately diagnosing and prosecuting drivers impaired by pot is a challenge.
Legal cannabis is slowly becoming common. But it's still illegal at the federal level. The lack of standards and peer-reviewed studies makes pioneering states testing grounds for legal weed.
As legalization picks up steam across multiple states, studies and stats trickle in. Here are key findings:
It's difficult to draw conclusions about the affects of legalization. More studies will paint a clearer picture as recreational cannabis reaches more states. Some current findings seem to contradict each other, perhaps due to study controls and conclusions.
It's also not yet clear how weed impacts motor skills. When trying to decide if they're too high on marijuana to drive, many pot users actually overestimate how impaired they are. This is a key difference from alcohol, where drunk drivers tend to underestimate their intoxication level. Also, The NCBI found that “most marijuana-intoxicated drivers show modest impairments on actual road tests." A driving simulation by the NIDA shows that stoned drivers suffer slight cognitive difficulties.
Law enforcement, as a result, struggle with accurately testing and applying laws to reefer users. It’s a double faceted problem: we don't have proper drug testing methods largely because we don't completely understand cannabis. It's no surprise that many current cannabis DUI testing methods are under fire.
Today, states use two approaches to test stoned drivers: per se or effect-based laws. Both tests face criticism. "Neither type of test is accurate because neither is validated to detect marijuana impairment," says Jolene Forman, staff attorney with the Drug Policy Alliance.
Per se laws, or THC threshold tests, are controversial. They set a limit for how much cannabis can be in a person's system while driving. If tests find a specific trace amount of THC in the driver, they are deemed impaired.
Contrary to other tests, per se DUIs do not require any signs of impairment. And the science behind them is contentious.
"THC threshold tests only measure, at best, whether a person has consumed marijuana at some point in the past few days," says Forman. Many others share her opinion.
"Such laws are generally unpopular because science has not validated the presence of specific thresholds of substances other than alcohol as predictors of driver impairment," says Paul Armentano, NORML's deputy director. NORML is an advocacy group focused on drug law reform.
Failing a per se sobriety test doesn't guarantee that a driver is high. Most states with per se DUI laws have set the limit at five nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. Critics of the laws claim that limit is arbitrary. They also contend that THC measurements are inherently inaccurate.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agrees. "It is difficult to establish a relationship between a person's THC blood or plasma concentration and performance impairing effects," their study concludes. "It is inadvisable to try and predict effects based on blood THC concentrations alone."
People metabolize marijuana and alcohol differently. Daily pot users will have THC in their blood long after use. They can fail a per se DUI test without recently using cannabis. Cases where a sober driver gets a drug driving charge are already happening in per se states.
"Marijuana may be detected hours, days, or even weeks after use, long after any possible impairment has dissipated," says Forman. "This would be equivalent to a test showing that a person had a glass of wine or some beer nights or even weeks prior. It would tell you very little about whether the person is presently impaired," she concludes.
"[Users] can test positive for four days for infrequent users, and up to ten days for daily users," says Ravi Spaarenberg, CEO of Sensi Seeds. "This clearly does not provide a conclusive answer to the question if the person was in fact under the influence of cannabis while driving."
Here are the biggest criticisms of per se pot laws:
Some states forego THC threshold tests in favor of effect-based tests. This requires evidence of impaired driving. Courts must also prove that impaired performance was due to cannabis. Like per se laws, effect-based laws come with their fair share of criticism and debate.
When a cop pulls over a suspected drunk driver, they look for visual clues. Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, decreased motor skills, and the smell of alcohol are some indicators. With the exception of red eyes and a potential smell, stoned drivers don't give off such clues.
"When law enforcement stop a vehicle and interact with the driver, it is often very difficult to tell if a person is under the influence of marijuana," says attorney Matt Pinsker.
Even with obvious signs of impaired driving, it's not easy to tie it weed. Law enforcement don't have standardized THC test kits and detection techniques. This is partly due to the recency of legalization.
"There are a host of problems with drug testing techniques and analyses, including the substantial risk of false positive test results, false negative test results, specimen contamination; and chain of custody, storage, and re-testing issues," says Forman.
"THC tests are unreliable and often incorrect," she continues. "Chemical testing, like many other forensic disciplines, is highly technical and imperfect."
The discrepancies with these tests make prosecuting pot DUIs a challenge.
Changing sobriety standards, no caselaw to reference, and unreliable test methods make prosecuting pot DUIs a challenge.
"Cases are more complicated to prosecute and take considerably longer than a classic drunk driving case," says attorney Todd Spodek. Courts across the country have trouble proving that stoned drivers are too stoned to drive.
There are several examples of overturned marijuana DUI charges:
We're still learning the science behind the psychoactive properties of pot. According to the NCPIP, there are more than 480 natural components in cannabis, 66 of which are unique chemicals known as cannabinoids. They're divided into the following subclasses:
Studies have found that the cannabinoid most responsible for making users feel 'high' is THC. THC is fat-soluble while alcohol is water-soluble. This means that THC takes much longer to breakdown. Essentially, THC stores itself in your fat cells while alcohol dissolves quickly through your liver.
Failing an alcohol breathalyzer means alcohol is active in your system. But finding THC in your bloodstream doesn't mean said THC is active.
THC metabolizes into two main forms: 11-OH-THC, or hydroxy-THC and THC-COOH, or carboxy-THC. THC-COOH, unlike THC, is not psychoactive. Conversely, 11-OH-THC, the active metabolite of THC, has psychoactive properties.
A urine test may reveal THC-COOH in the system, but that doesn't prove that 11-OH-THC is present. Drug tests that look for THC-COOH, therefore, aren't conclusive in determining impairment.
THC-COOH is easier to detect for a longer period. Some lawmakers don't understand the nuances of THC, thus many sobriety tests look for any form of THC. And tests become even murkier when factoring varying levels of tolerance or ingestion methods.
We need more studies to fully understand the science of how we ingest marijuana and how it impacts driving. That's why many people advocate for new approaches to testing stoned drivers.
It's clear that current approaches to determining cannabis intoxication fall short. The lack of conclusive tests make prosecuting stoned drivers a challenge.
"These tests are so unscientific that they both under and over punish drivers," says Forman. She states that, due to testing and prosecuting inconsistencies, innocent drivers can be incorrectly punished. Similarly, actual stoned drivers may beat sobriety tests or have their cases dropped.
What can lawmakers do to improve marijuana DUI tests? For starters:
There are some studies on stoned driving in legal states. These are their findings:
These are some of the first marijuana DUI statistics and studies. In reality, there isn't much concrete information yet. It's difficult to make definitive statements about the impacts of pot after only a few years of legality. Time will reveal more trends and correlations.
Without an accurate measure of THC levels, drivers must simply drive when they feel sober. So, police are more conscious of stoned drivers, and they charge more drivers with marijuana DUIs.
If you are pulled over and arrested for driving high, you automatically consent to take a blood test. You do have the option to refuse the blood test. This requires a hearing with the department of licensing that can result in a long license suspension. Some attorneys recommend taking the blood test, as murky weed DUI laws could work in your favor:
“There is little case law on the admissibility of marijuana chemical tests in New York. Therefore the statute would guide that if a driver consented to a test, there is a strong case for admissibility” says Kimberly Anne Palesz Defense and Family Law.
A good lawyer can question the process leading to a DUI arrest, including poking holes in the testing process. As we know, today's testing methods aren't reliable.
"Although Field Sobriety Tests can be somewhat reliable for marijuana, unlike the breath test in the field for alcohol, there is no scientific instrument which measures levels of THC in the field," says Pinsker.
Just because you’ve been arrested for a pot DUI doesn’t mean you can’t save money on car insurance. Compare quotes from multiple companies and lower your insurance rates.
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The newly imposed laws give authorities more ground to charge you with a DUI. That said, you’re also more likely to beat the DUI charge. Lawyers can question the legitimacy of the blood test to see if officers use proper procedure. In most states, only a few labs have approval for blood tests.
“DUI Marijuana cases are much easier to defend. If an attorney knows the science behind the chemical testing, DUI marijuana is typically one of the easiest cases to win,” says criminal attorney Michael A. Dye.
In states that don’t have a legal limit, it’s even easier to prove your innocence in court.
"It’s not enough to merely suspect someone has consumed marijuana. In the absence of an admission or a blood test, it can be very difficult if not impossible to prove that this person has used marijuana," says criminal defense attorney Glenn Kurtzrock.
Even with a positive test, authorities must prove that poor driving is due to intoxication. This has led to some novel and interesting cases by defendants in cannabis DUI cases.
“One position that many defendants take is to state they are frequent users of marijuana, therefore even if they test above 5 nanograms of active THC they are still not impaired,” says Lindsey Parlin a Colorado attorney.
Weed-related driving laws in many states are ambiguous. This can give you an advantage in court. However, there is still a very real chance you will be convicted of a pot DUI.
A pot DUI carries the same criminal punishment as an alcohol-related DUI. But it can result in greater fines and jail time due to marijuana’s drug classification.
While legal in some states, the DEA still classifies reefer as a Schedule 1 drug. Marijuana DUI penalties can lead to greater fines or jail time depending on the offense.
Aside from fines and jail time, the state can suspend your license. After license suspension, the state notifies your insurer. This will impact your policy in a negative way.
Insurers will likely classify you as a high-risk driver. This increases your car insurance premiums for up to seven years. Depending on your driving history, your insurer could cancel your policy.
In some states, you may need to file for an SR-22. An SR-22 proves that you have purchased the state minimum amount of coverage. Don’t let a weed DUI force you to overpay for car insurance.
DUI’s are expensive. The whole process on average costs $10,000 and another $5,000 in car insurance rate increases! If you get a pot DUI, it pays to compare quotes from other companies. Your current insurer may no longer offer you good deals, but there may be companies that have better rates for you.
There's a gold rush to come up with a scientifically sound pot sobriety test. From experimental breathalyzers to sobriety test apps and saliva swabs, the race is on.
"Unfortunately, no one has come close to perfecting the technology for an accurate cannabis breathalyzer," says Rebecca Gasca, CEO of Pistil and Stigma.
Advocates stress that there's no golden goose for cannabis detection. A sound detection policy needs a bottom-up approach with several different recognition methods.
"These include greater use of drug recognition evaluators, the use of modified roadside field sobriety tests, the provisional use of use of roadside cannabis-sensitive detection technology, such as saliva test or breath test, and the provisional use of handheld performance technology," says Armentano.
As more and more states open the door to recreational pot, we will learn more about cannabis and driving. The pioneer states are crucial in guiding the conversation to form sensible policy for dealing with stoned drivers.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such, may not be current and is subject to change without notice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
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