Recreational marijuana may be legal in Colorado now, as it is in some other states, but that doesn’t mean that it’s legal to drive after getting high. This can still lead to impaired driving charges, just as if you had consumed too much alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
That being said, simply testing positive for THC doesn’t necessarily mean that you were still under the influence. It can still show up the following day, for example, which is why testing for it isn’t quite as beneficial as it is for alcohol, where the police can tell if you are impaired at the time. It’s important to understand how different types of marijuana are going to impact you and how that can put you at risk of being arrested.
A delayed effect
Generally speaking, when you smoke marijuana, you’re going to feel the effects very quickly. They are also going to fade relatively quickly. This could take as long as three hours for some people who are new users, but it may also be shorter.
When you take edibles, however, they often don’t even start to have an effect for around 60 minutes. The delay could be as long as two or three hours. But, after the edibles kick in, then they can last for as long as 12 more hours.
In other words, if you’re at a social gathering and you have a few drinks, you can typically count on them wearing off at a predictable rate. But if you eat edibles, it’s much less clear when that impairment is actually going to end. This often leads to impaired driving because people are still high when they realize that it is time to leave and go home.
If you do find yourself facing some serious charges, be sure you know about all of the legal options you have.