Marijuana & DUI in San Diego

Driving under the influence of marijuana in San Diego is a hot topic because a positive blood test or urine test for THC does not prove that the person was stoned while they were driving. THC is the active drug in marijuana and unlike alcohol it remains present and detectable in the user for up to 6 months after ingesting it. This means that you can be charged with DUI drugs in San Diego many months after smoking your last joint, even if you are completely sober.

Many people use marijuana as a medicinal drug to relieve the symptoms of certain degenerative diseases, making the current San Diego DUI drug laws very difficult for many law abiding, responsible citizens. And there are recent studies by the Federal Department of Transportation that have found that marijuana does not severely impair a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely in the same way that alcohol does. The Department of Transportation’s report, called “Marijuana and Actual Performance” also clearly states that it is impossible to presume that someone’s ability to drive is impaired by them testing positive for THC in their blood or urine. The report states that “THC is not a profoundly impairing drug” and that it does not exceed someone’s competence to drive a vehicle safely when that person is intent on driving safely.