Prince George’s County Marijuana DUI Lawyer

The second a person is charged with a marijuana DUI, they need to contact a lawyer. If they are charged with any allegation that they are under the influence of a drug or impaired by a drug while they were driving a vehicle, it is imperative to have an attorney. Alleged offenders face a court date and may risk losing their license, so they want to have that conversation with their attorney right away.

If you were charged with driving while under the influence of marijuana, then you need to reach out to a Prince George’s County marijuana DUI lawyer for help.

Marijauna Laws in Prince George’s County

Marijuana possession of less than 10 grams is a civil citation in Prince George’s County. It is still illegal, but they are not criminally charging it. Having more than 10 grams is a criminal charge. Possession with intent to distribute is a criminal charge, so it is illegal. Marijuana is still a Schedule I drug.

Is Marijuana Decriminalized in Maryland?

Decriminalization of marijuana has no impact on a marijuana DUI, nor does it change the limits of searching a vehicle. The state of Maryland has said at the court of appeals that the odor of marijuana alone is enough to search a vehicle. A person is not protected nor is their car protected.

Medical Marijuana

Marijuana stays in a person’s system for over 30 days. If an individual has a medical card and is allowed to smoke marijuana, it is no different than having a license that says they are 21 and they are able to buy and drink alcohol.

The combination of either with a car is not a good thing because people could certainly be impaired behind the wheel if they had used that substance recently. However, the officers would note that the person has a marijuana license. They have permission to purchase it. Unfortunately, the officers may also think that because someone has a license, then they must have marijauna on their person and subsequently must be under the influence.

A Prince George’s County marijuana DUI lawyer’s argument centers around the marijuana card. The person is lawfully allowed to possess and use marijuana for medical purposes. They were not, at any point in time, using it prior to operating a vehicle in a recent window of time, and anything that came back on that blood test would show that. The amount in their system is insignificant when compared to others who might have been smoking in the exact moment. If they even consider the fact that it is slightly elevated, that is okay because they smoke at least once or twice per day. Defense attorneys use this infromation to defend alleged offenders.

Potential Charges

A person facing a marijuana DUI is likely facing impairment charges that carry a maximum of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Both marijuana DUIs and alcohol DUIs deal with impairment caused by something is a person’s system while they are driving a vehicle. What sets them apart is the inability to know just how much is too much, or just what it means to be impaired by marijuana when driving.

Evidence and How the Prosecution Uses It

Marijuana DUI cases often rely on further testing by a drug recognition expert and a blood test, if the person submitted to such a test.

In a marijuana DUI case, the prosecution needs to prove that the individual was impaired by this drug and that it was affecting their ability to properly control the vehicle either physically or cognitively. They could prove that through observations by the drug recognition expert officer in most written reports as well as footage from body-worn cameras. The defense sees the same information, and then if there was alcohol related as well, the prosecution may pair that in, so the person could be charged by both drugs and alcohol.

Important Tips for Alleged Offenders

The three important things to know about marijuana DUIs in Prince George’s County are as follows. First, a person should make no statements to the officer while they have them on the side of the road. Second, the person should call a lawyer. Lastly, they should try their best to write down as much as they remember of their interaction with the officer and events two or three hours prior to that, recalling where they were and what they were doing. That timeline could be important. Attorneys want to be able to have all that information.

Contact a Compassionate Defense Attorney in Prince George’s County

Arguing a marijuana DUI case is not like arguing cases involving alcohol. Most of the standard-form sobriety tests are not going to have as much of an impact, and so a charged person needs an attorney who knows what they are arguing and knows what suppressible issues are available.

To start working toward a positive courtroom outcome, contact a Prince George’s County marijuana DUI lawyer who could help you do just that.