Do You Know About 420 Drug-Impaired Driving?
April 20th is more commonly known as 420, a date that has become synonymous with marijuana use. On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, it is likely that there will be an increase in marijuana use. This also means that 420 drug-impaired driving will occur. Below we will provide information about marijuana, its impact on driving skills, and drug-impaired driving laws. If you plan to partake this April 20th, be safe and avoid driving. Remember, the safest way to drive is sober.
We hope this article helps you make an informed decision about 420 drug-impaired driving. If you are injured by an impaired driver in the Las Vegas area, speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. The law firm of Anthem Injury Lawyers has a dedicated team of lawyers and staff ready to help you with your personal injury case. You don’t have to worry about paying for a lawyer upfront. We work on a contingency basis. That means that our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers only get paid when you win. Don’t delay. Our experienced personal injury lawyers offer the knowledge and expertise you need to win the compensation you deserve as an accident victim.
Remember that you don’t have to face the stress of being a victim alone – our experienced car accident lawyers have won significant compensation in many cases just like yours. This is the type of expertise and experience you can benefit from. You need a top Las Vegas personal injury law firm to represent you – Anthem Injury Lawyers. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
Marijuana Fast Facts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the following marijuana fast facts:
- Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. It has approximately 22.2 million users each month.
- Research shows that about 1 in 10 marijuana users will become addicted.
- Marijuana use directly affects the brain. Specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time.
- Eating foods or drinking beverages that contain marijuana have some different risks than smoking marijuana.
- Long-term or frequent marijuana use has been linked to increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users.
- Using marijuana during pregnancy may increase the baby’s risk for developmental problems.
Does Marijuana Impact Driving Ability?
Yes, marijuana impacts your driving ability. Marijuana can affect skills required for safe driving, and can result in the following:
- Slower reaction time.
- Impaired judgment of distance.
- Decreased coordination.
- Impaired lane tracking.
- Slower decision-making ability.
- Impaired cognitive function.
- Difficulty problem solving.
- Impaired motor skills.
- An increase in the negative impact of alcohol or other substances.
If an impaired driver injures you, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. The experienced team at Anthem Injury Lawyers can help you protect your rights and get you the personal injury settlement that you deserve. Well-meaning people may tell you that you don’t need a car accident lawyer. Our experience as top Las Vegas car accident lawyers has proven otherwise: you need aggressive and experienced lawyers fighting to ensure you get the compensation you are entitled to as an accident victim. You need Anthem Injury Lawyers. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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Does Marijuana Increase Your Risk of a Car Accident?
It is unclear whether marijuana use actually increases the risk of car crashes. According to the CDC, this is because:
- An accurate roadside test for drug levels in the body doesn’t exist.
- Marijuana can remain in a user’s system for days or weeks after last use. This depends on how much marijuana a person uses and how often they use marijuana.
- Drivers are not always tested for drug use. Especially if they have an illegal blood alcohol concentration level.
- When tested for substance use following a crash, drivers can have both drugs and alcohol or multiple drugs in their system. This makes it difficult to know which substance contributed more to the crash.
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Drug Impaired Driving Laws
Every state has laws dealing with drug impaired driving. But laws vary from state to state. There are two basic laws that states tend to use when addressing drug-impaired driving, zero tolerance and per se.
Zero Tolerance Laws
These laws make it illegal to drive with any measurable amount of specified drugs in the body.
Per Se Laws
These laws make it illegal to drive with amounts of specified drugs in the body that exceed set limits.
Marijuana Drug Impaired Driving Laws
The Governors Highway Safety Association reports the following with regard to Marijuana Drug-Impaired Driving Laws:
- Seventeen states have zero tolerance or non-zero per se laws for marijuana.
- Ten states have zero tolerance for THC or a metabolite.
- Three states have zero tolerance for THC but no restriction on metabolites.
- Four states have specific per se limits for THC.
- One state (Colorado) has a permissible inference law for THC.
THC
Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive drug in marijuana. When marijuana is smoked or ingested, THC is absorbed into the blood stream and distributed into areas of the body, including the brain.
If you or a loved one are the victim in a 420 drug-impaired driving accident, contact an experienced Las Vegas lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers have experienced car accident lawyers who are ready to help you. After an accident, you should be focused on recovering from the injuries and trauma. You shouldn’t have to worry about insurance companies that aren’t interested in your pain and suffering. Let us take on your car accident case for you and relieve you of your stress. We encourage you to set up an appointment with our experienced lawyers who know how to win significant compensation for car accident victims. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
Nevada DUI of Marijuana Law
Under Nevada DUI laws, a person is under the influence of marijuana if:
- the substance has impaired the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, OR
- the driver’s blood contains a certain amount of marijuana.
Nevada Revised Statute 484C.105
Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 484C.105 defines “under the influence” as:
- Impaired to a degree that renders a person incapable of safely driving or exercising actual physical control of a vehicle.
NRS 484C.110
Under NRS 484C.110, it is unlawful for any person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle on a highway or on-premises to which the public has access with an amount of any of the following prohibited substances in his or her blood that is equal to or greater than:
- Marijuana (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), 2 blood nanograms per milliliter
- Marijuana metabolite (11-OH-tetrahydrocannabinol), 5 blood nanograms per milliliter
This means that under the current law, a driver does not necessarily have to be “high” or intoxicated to be charged with a DUI. If the driver’s blood contains the minimum prohibited amount while the driver is operating a vehicle, it is illegal per se. It does not matter if the driver is driving safely.
Proposed Changes
Last month, an assemblyman presented AB400. AB400 would revise provisions relating to the use of marijuana and the operation of a vehicle. For more information see our article, Is Nevada Updating Its DUI of Marijuana Law?
Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers
This April 20th, we hope you stay safe both on and off the roads. If you are injured by 420 drug-impaired driving, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will work aggressively to protect your rights and help you receive maximum compensation.
Award-winning personal injury law firm Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyers. We are based in Henderson, Nevada, and serve clients throughout the Las Vegas area. With over 25 years of experience, Anthem Injury Lawyers specializes in personal injury claims. Contact our experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyers. Our decades of experience and our deep familiarity with all aspects of Nevada personal injury law, give you a powerful advantage. We offer you the best opportunity to win significant compensation for your injuries. Don’t wait: now is the right time to get our car accident law experience working for you. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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