November 30, 2012
With marijuana recently being legalized for recreational use in Colorado, law enforcement is now faced with a new challenge—determining if a motorist is too high to drive. FOX News discussed the dilemma and what officials are doing to solve the problem.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that one-third of all drivers fatally injured in motor vehicle accidents tested positive for drugs. A majority of those cases involved marijuana, and the number continues to grow each year in Colorado. In 2009, state toxicology lab reports show a total of 791 test results were positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. By 2011, the number had skyrocketed to more than 2,000 positive test results, including some from drivers who may have been involved in Denver Car Accidents.
The problem with establishing laws to prevent drugged driving is that there is no set standard in Colorado of what constitutes marijuana impairment. Typically, states that have legalized marijuana have established intoxication limits of between two and five nanograms of THC per liter of blood, which experts believe is fairly equivalent to the .08 blood-alcohol limit.
State lawmakers intend to address the issue during the next legislative session.
The Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers with McDivitt Law Firm understand the dangers that driving under the influence of drugs can pose. We are here to help you if you have been hurt in a car accident that was caused by an intoxicated driver.
