If you use marijuana for medical or recreational purposes in Colorado it is imperative to prepare for possible marijuana (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drugs or Both) DUID arrest and to know the right DUID Denver Attorney to reach out to for representation. The State of Colorado has for decades used screening tests such as the roadside test commonly known as Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) and blood tests as part of ways to determine whether to arrest for a DUID. The Standardized Field Sobriety Test is a three test series administered in a standardized manner. These tests are promulgated by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) which is a federal agency. While these SFST are only validated by NHTSA to predict the level of alcohol in a driver’s system, law enforcement officers are authorized to conduct these tests at the roadside to help them collect evidence in making an arrest. Now, with new laws for the recreational use of marijuana don’t be surprised when confronted by an arresting officer and be asked if you would volunteer in the DUI Marijuana pilot program test. So what exactly is this DUID marijuana screening all about?
The new DUI Marijuana pilot program . is set up to allow law enforcement to use various testing methods on drivers to see if the testing methods can accurately measure the level of THC of the driver. You do not have to participate in the program if asked by your arresting officer. The cannabis testing is part of an on-going three-year pilot program of the Colorado State Patrol to help them determine marijuana-impaired drivers. There are almost 150 State troopers across Colorado who use one of the five kinds of oral fluid testers that check the driver’s saliva for the presence of marijuana. As part of the testing, the State Patrol trooper will then ask for your consent for the inside of your cheeks to be swabbed for your saliva.
THC or tetrahyrdocannabinol is also called cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant. It can adversely affect the psychological state of an individual if consumed in large amounts. It is important to note that in Colorado there is a “permissive inference” of 5 nanograms of THC in the blood which allows jurors or the government to “presume” that if the person has a 5ng THC level in his or her blood, that driver is “under the influence” of THC.
The Marijuana Taskforce is a joint venture of law enforcement and government officials who are responsible for the approval and funding of the new DUI Marijuana pilot program to accurately determine whether a person is driving under the influence. In the meantime, the results gathered from the testing are yet to be determined.
If you are arrested for a DUI for either alcohol or marijuana it is highly recommended to consult with a well informed, experienced DUI Attorney Denver, this way you are sure to have the right law on your side and increase the chances of a positive outcome in your case.