Tips for Buying Legal Weed in Colorado: DUIs Are Real, Be Careful

With marijuana legal for sale in licensed shops in Colorado since January 1st, and legal for adults over 21+ to possess, there have also been other rules that have changed to respond to the new status of marijuana.

Specifically, law enforcement in Colorado is now cracking down more than ever on drivers under the influence of marijuana. It’s easy to see how the easily accessible retail marijuana market has made the Colorado police nervous, which has led to campaigns to inform the public about the consequences of driving impaired.

The mandates passed in Colorado in the last year in response to retail marijuana sales also includes a hard limit on how many nanograms of THC can be in your system while behind the wheel. In Colorado, that limit is 5 nanograms of THC, which is a very low limit that also does not take into account that marijuana, unlike alcohol, can store itself in fat cells for up to 30 days after use.

There has been much debate about that limit, which was clearly created by lawmakers that don’t fully understand exactly how marijuana works in the body. If the average person smokes even part of a joint and then drives a car 8 hours later, there is a good chance that they will still test positive for active THC and receive a DUI, even though the effect has totally worn off by the point of testing.

But even with the limit being as low as it is, it’s still a serious offense if you do happen to get pulled over. It’s also a problem for the driver to be in possession of marijuana while driving, which is why you shouldn’t travel with marijuana in your glove compartment. The glove compartment is considered an extension of the driver, which means that any marijuana found can still get you a charge for possession. Interestingly, it’s still legal for any passenger over the age of 21 to have possession under an ounce, so just make sure that your friend is hanging onto any bud or paraphernalia if you are driving.

If you’re visiting Denver to score some legal herb, wait to get to your destination to enjoy it. Make sure to keep it sealed in your exit bag while driving and make sure your driver doesn’t have anything on them or in the glove compartment. Legal sales don’t mean that driving has changed, and in fact, the rules have only become more strict. Act accordingly, weedists!