As one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, Colorado has become something of a test model for how the rest of the country will approach their own drug policies moving forward. While most of this observation has come from afar, law enforcement officials from around the world flocked to Colorado this week for an in-person, three-day "marijuana summit" held by the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. The topic: Colorado's first year of legal marijuana, and what to learn from it.
As Avon Police Chief Robert Ticer told the forum, since legalization was enacted, both the numbers of in-state marijuana users and out-of-state residents coming to Colorado precisely for the drug have increased. This trend has many local law enforcement agencies on edge, particularly on the topic of highway safety, which Dicer emphasized as a major issue that state police were still grappling with.
"If you're going to use marijuana, don't drive," said Ticer, noting that the number of marijuana DUI arrests has increased over the past year and that driving stoned is as dangerous as driving drunk. "Distorted time and perception, reaction time is lessened, less ability to focus and concentrate [...] [Stoned drivers] can be impaired for up to three, four hours minimum."
While it still may be early days for Colorado marijuana laws, that doesn't change the fact that if you're caught driving under the influence of marijuana, you'll be charged with DUI, leaving you to face steep fines and a revoked driver's license.
If you're being charged with a marijuana DUI, contact The Orr Law Firm right away. Our expert DUI defense attorneys will work tirelessly to defend your case from the prosecution and facilitate as minimal of an impact on your life as possible.