States Struggle to Establish Drugged Driving Laws

BALTIMORE, MD, August 06, 2012 (Press-News.org) Nearly 2,000 teenagers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs in Maryland in 2009. Although Maryland is not currently one of the states looking to pass a marijuana-specific drugged driving law, there are similar laws under review in other states, and it's likely only a matter of time before the debate makes its way to the Maryland state legislature.

The third time was not the charm for the creators of a Colorado bill that aimed to set a legal limit while driving under the influence of marijuana. State legislators voted it down for the third time. They could not agree on how to accurately determine how much is too much when it comes to marijuana and its chemical component THC. Had the bill passed, Colorado would have become the third state to pass a marijuana driving law involving a legal limit.

In most states at the moment it's generally up to the police officer to observe and determine whether or not they feel the driver is under the influence of a substance like marijuana, as opposed to the more concrete evidence offered by field sobriety tests and blood alcohol tests.

But as more states enact laws that allow for the use of medical marijuana (and, perhaps, decriminalize recreational marijuana use), more traffic stops are bound to turn into drugged driving stops. If your traffic stop resulted in an arrest for driving under the influence of drugs, you may need to speak with a criminal attorney in Baltimore, Maryland who can protect your legal rights.

Opponents of DUI law involving marijuana believe a blood test is not an accurate standard to determine wither or not a person is actually impaired while driving. As in the use of alcohol, the impact of marijuana on any given person will differ by height and weight, as well as by factors such as habitual use. The longer people use, the more tolerant they become, and the more able they are to function normally while using. Opponents of such laws simply do not believe the roads will be any safer by passing a blood level limit on THC.

Those in favor of the bill believe there can be no harm in setting a limit at which a person would be too high to drive. Similar to alcohol abuse, an officer would need a reason to pull over a drugged driver and would presumably be trained in recognizing a driver who is under the influence of marijuana.

The Maryland drug lawyer at The Law Offices of James E. Crawford, Jr. & Associates, LLC defends clients against all types of crimes, from misdemeanors like shoplifting, to felonies like drug distribution and sex offenses. Their firm also represents clients in Baltimore divorce and Baltimore personal injury cases. People in Maryland have relied on the Law Offices of James E. Crawford, Jr. & Associates, LLC since 1992. To contact James Crawford, Esq. or a member of his legal team, call 866-635-0623, or visit http://www.crawforddefenseattorney.com/ for more information about his criminal law practice.

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