4/20: Yes, you can get a DUI from driving high

Tiffany Wismer
·2 min read

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — April 20 is a day marked by heavy cannabis consumption, and CDOT, along with the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), has released a safety guide for 420 celebrations. They especially want people to know that driving under the influence of cannabis will earn you a DUI just as easily as driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to CDOT’s website: “The law states that if you are impaired to the slightest degree, you can be arrested — no matter what the substance. That is why Colorado law enforcement officers are increasingly trained to identify drivers impaired by alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. Colorado currently has 136 law enforcement officers certified as Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). In addition, many Colorado law enforcement officers have received special training in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE). Law enforcement officers base arrests on observed impairment.”

Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9 THC) is the most common impairing substance in cannabis products sold in Colorado. Some other products may contain other cannabinoids (CBD, CBN, CBG, etc.) which could also cause impairment, and these products can also affect your ability to drive—even if they don’t contain THC.

It is important to know that mixing cannabis and alcohol enhances the impairing effects of both—and you can get a DUI even if you’re under the legal limit of both. These drugs will affect each person differently, so here are some general guidelines for judging impairment in yourself or others:

  • If you’ve smoked less than 35 mg of THC, you need to wait six hours to drive. If you have smoked more than 35 mg you should wait longer than six hours.

  • If less than 18 mg of THC has been consumed by eating or drinking, you should wait at least eight hours before driving. If you’ve eaten more than 18 mg, wait longer.

  • If you’re mixing cannabis with alcohol, you need to wait even longer.

  • Given these long wait times, it’s best to find a sober ride home.

“It is a big week for marijuana consumers in Colorado, and we want to prevent anyone from getting behind the wheel if they’ve been consuming cannabis, alcohol, or other drugs,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “We’re asking everyone to celebrate responsibly. Driving high is illegal, and any amount of impairment puts you at risk for a DUI.”

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