Prince George’s County Marijuana DUI Lawyer

The decriminalization of marijuana does not really change the nature of the marijuana DUI charge itself because whether it is prescribed or in an amount under ten grams, a person still cannot drive under the influence. The only difference is, whereas in the past someone will get a DUI and a separate marijuana possession charge, now they would typically only get the DUI charge itself. A person may face a driving under the influence of drugs charge for a marijuana DUI.

If you have been accused of operating a vehicle while under the influence, contacting a distinguished drug DUI attorney can help you seek the peace of mind necessary to fight the consequences you are facing. Discuss your case with a Prince George’s County marijuana DUI lawyer right away.

Marijuana DUI’s vs. Alcohol DUI’s

In Prince George’s County, marijuana possession under ten grams is decriminalized. This means that holding more than ten grams for distribution is likely to result in a criminal offense. However, if someone does have a medical marijuana card, they can have a prescription for it and have enough marijuana that is provided for by the card itself. The potential penalties for a marijuana DUI are up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Marijuana DUI cases are different from alcohol-based DUIs because they are still seen as impermissible but they do not hold the same stigma as alcohol. Alcohol is a physically addictive substance. People who drink alcohol tend to get extremely belligerent and uncoordinated whereas marijuana does not have the same physiological addictive properties and typically does not have the same negative connotations or stigma as alcohol.

Is Evidence Treated Differently in a Marijuana DUI Case?

As a Prince George’s County marijuana DUI lawyer has seen, the prosecution in a cannabis-based DUI case needs to prove in a marijuana-based DUI case that an individual was in control or operation of a motor vehicle and did so while under the influence of marijuana. Evidence in marijuana DUI cases is different from evidence in alcohol-based cases because one of the most significant aspects is the potential lack of alcoholic odor.

Marijuana, on the other hand, is something that can pervade and persist for hours if not days. If somebody smokes in a vehicle, then they might still smell of marijuana two days later in the vehicle, almost like how cigarette smoke lingers sometimes. The smell of it alone is not as compelling in a marijuana case as opposed to an alcohol case.

When to Contact an Attorney

A person should hire a Prince George’s County marijuana DUI lawyer in the case of action if somebody is charged with driving under the influence of marijuana. Regardless of whether someone’s prescribed marijuana or has under 10 grams, they still can’t drive under the influence of it.

It is important to contact a DUI attorney who has familiarity with marijuana DUIs because only an attorney that has familiarity would be able to raise the proper defenses, make the right challenges to the state’s case and have certain experience to present appropriately all the facets of the case, good and bad, to a judge, prosecutor, and jury.