Articles Posted in Medical Marijuana and DUI

Opponents of legalization often point to public safety as a reason to continue to enforce laws against recreational use. Whether you are a marijuana advocate or against legalization, cases involving driving under the influence are critical to the debate. According to recent reports, the sprint car driver, Kevin Ward Jr., was under the influence of marijuana when he was struck and killed by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. The recent toxicology report sheds new light on the case, casting doubt on the actions of the victim and releasing the driver from any culpability.
twocarsmeeting1.jpg

In any accident case that results in a casualty, law enforcement officials will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause and identify responsible parties. Our Orange County marijuana attorneys are experienced in all angles of marijuana law, from regulatory and compliance issues through criminal defense. In addition to staying abreast of local and state developments in marijuana law, we also stay current on changing marijuana laws by state at the federal level.
Continue reading

The quest to arrest and penalize drivers who are under the influence of marijuana is gaining traction in California and nationwide. Despite the purported ease of arresting, testing, and charging marijuana users the same as alcohol drinkers, the nuances are much more complicated. For one, there is no scientific evidence demonstrating what level drivers who use marijuana become impaired. Even if impairment could be proven, it is impossible to know when a driver is ‘over the limit’ and testing can be inaccurate and indecipherable. Fortunately, a California bill that would have imposed DUI penalties on marijuana users has failed in the legislature.

imprisonment1.jpg

According to the Huffington Post, the bill would have meant a DUI conviction even if you had trace amounts of THC in your blood. This means that any driver who smoked, regardless of how much and whether they were in fact impaired, would have been charged with DUI. With the increasing severity of DUI charges and penalties, the narrow dodge of the bill protects the rights of marijuana users and citizens in general. Our Orange County medical marijuana attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and business owners in the cannabis community. In addition to advocating for clients, we are abreast of legal issues and trends that impact marijuana users and industry leaders.
Continue reading

Now that a lot of states are relaxing marijuana laws, there is growing concern over individuals driving under the influence of marijuana.

light3.jpg

Our marijuana defense lawyers in Los Angeles have seen the new legalization create more uncertainty, for citizens as well as law enforcement.

One of the biggest concerns in states like California and Colorado is that the lines of what constitutes impairment are blurred and still being developed.
Continue reading

As marijuana becomes more acceptable throughout the United States one major source of frustration for advocates continues to be the laws surrounding Marijuana DUIs.

laboratory-glassware-1266835-m.jpg

Our Los Angeles marijuana lawyers realize the issue is not that marijuana advocate encourage driving while high because they do not.

However, the problem is really with the specific enforcement measures some states are taking. Standardized methods of DUI enforcement for alcohol have been created, and while they suffer from their own problems, marijuana DUI enforcement may be even more complicated.
Continue reading

Marijuana advocates do not support driving under the influence of marijuana as authorities continue to look into the true danger of marijuana impaired driving. As more and more states legalize marijuana use it is important to have a complete understanding of the substance’s effects on driving behavior.

Is Drivign While High Dangerous.jpg

OurLos Angeles marijuana lawyers hope individuals do not drive under the influence of any substance, including marijuana. We also believe it is important to stay current with scientific research on the subject.

Recently in Washington State and Colorado a study revealed that test subjects had to smoke almost an entire gram of marijuana before they were too impaired to drive.
Continue reading

Californians who might be marijuana users should certainly keep themselves informed of marijuana laws throughout the state.

mariuhana-157418-m.jpg

Our marijuana lawyers in Los Angeles want to help keep the public informed of what the law is in California and the ways in which police officers are enforcing it.

Sometimes marijuana regulation can be a moving target, particularly in the current climate where many states are altering their statutes regarding marijuana laws.
Continue reading

California motorists can expect to face a lot more scrutiny from law enforcement determined to crack down on stoned driving. Across the state, police and prosecutors are using increased funding to set up roadblocks and engage in aggressive prosecution of these cases.

praia-de-botafogo-by-night-1345673-m.jpg

Our marijuana lawyers in Los Angeles question just how effective these tactics will be, but drivers who consume marijuana even for medicinal purposes will become prime targets.

Other methods of cracking down on pot smokers who drive are in the works as well.

The Riverside County district attorney’s office, for example, is using a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to “expand efforts to aggressively prosecute” motorists who consume marijuana before driving, according to a press release issued by county officials.
Continue reading

According to a recent study the prevalence of illicit drugs found in fatal vehicle crashes is low when compared with alcohol. As new marijuana laws take affect it is clear that police officers will begin to focus on marijuana DUI enforcement
canabis-indica-429469-m.jpg

Our Los Angeles DUI lawyers do not believe anyone should drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol but would like to educate the public about recent scientific findings. The report shows that there is a much greater likelihood of detecting alcohol in the blood of a driver who was fatally injured than either illicit substances or prescription drugs.

Researchers evaluated the amount of drugs and alcohol in the blood of drivers who were killed between 2008 and 2011.
Continue reading

A recent study reveals that a marijuana breath test could offer a viable alternative to the extremely controversial blood tests some states are discussing.

marijuana-540317-m.jpg

Our marijuana defense lawyers have seen many states enact presumptive thresholds for cannabinoids and their metabolites to combat driving while under the influence of marijuana.

Unfortunately, these tests can turn up positive for marijuana use that occurred previously and is no longer having an effect on the individual tested. If tests of this nature are relied on by the court system to catch individuals driving under the influence of marijuana then there is a significant possibility that innocent individuals will be convicted.
Continue reading

Talks of marijuana legalization in California have spurred lawmakers and law enforcement officers to mull the possible introduction of breathalyzers with the ability to test drivers for the drug, in an effort to curb marijuana DUIs.
keys.jpg
This is certainly not the first time the issue of driving under the influence of marijuana has arisen in the Golden State. In fact, there has for some time been talk and even a few failed attempts to establish a formal legal threshold for how much marijuana is too much when behind the wheel. Several other states, including Colorado and Washington, have passed legislation that establishes marijuana intoxication as a measurement 5 or more nanograms of THC per each mililiter of blood.

Of course, these laws have been highly controversial in light of the fact that marijuana is processed in the body much differently than alcohol and even many other drugs. While you are likely to find little to no trace of alcohol in a person’s body 24 to 48 hours after consumption, evidence of marijuana consumption is going to remain in the body for days if not weeks after it has been consumed. For those who ingest it on a regular basis (think medical marijuana patients) the levels of the drug in their system are inevitably going to be higher. That doesn’t necessarily mean the individual is intoxicated.
Continue reading

Contact Information