Medical marijuana is legal in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean it’s always legal to drive around with the drug in your system. Arizona’s driving under the influence (DUI) laws applies to alcohol and drugs – including legal medicinal marijuana in some situations. If you find yourself at an Arizona police department facing DUI charges for marijuana, contact The Law Offices of John Phebus as soon as possible. Our Glendale marijuana DUI lawyers can provide aggressive representation to protect your rights and best interests after a marijuana-related DUI charge.
What Does the Arizona Law Say?
The status of marijuana as a legal drug for medicinal purposes in Arizona makes the state’s DUI laws fuzzy. DUI laws prohibit all drivers from operating motor vehicles with any illegal drug in their systems. Since 2010, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act has made marijuana legal for purchase and consumption for qualified individuals. This means that sometimes it’s legal to operate a vehicle with marijuana in your system if you do so within the confines of the law.
A patient has to have a valid medical marijuana registry identification card with the Arizona Department of Health Services to qualify for the legal use and possession of marijuana. This is the only scenario in which the use of marijuana is legal in the State of Arizona. Without a valid card, regardless of the level of intoxication, a driver can face a Glendale DUI drug charge for using an illegal substance while driving.
A valid medical marijuana ID card, however, does not automatically bar a driver from DUI charges. Even if a person is legally using medical marijuana, he or she cannot legally operate a vehicle while impaired. The driver has to wait until he or she no longer has active marijuana in the body before driving. Arizona has zero tolerance for people who drive while impaired, regardless of the legality of the drug. Even with a medical prescription, you can receive a DUI for driving under the influence of marijuana. If this happens, retain an attorney without delay.
How Our Marijuana DUI Attorneys Can Help
If Glendale police arrest you for a marijuana-related DUI, your first reaction is probably fear, anger, or anxiety. Before you speak to police and say something that could incriminate you, talk to a Glendale criminal attorney. You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer police questions until you have an attorney present. Take advantage of this right. Do not say anything at all to the arresting officer, other than that you wish to contact a lawyer. As soon as the booking process is complete, you will receive one phone call. Use it to dial (623) 847-7117, and get an aggressive Glendale marijuana DUI lawyer on your side.
Our team of attorneys knows the state’s marijuana laws down to the finest detail. We can advise you on what to say, what to do, and how best to protect your rights after a DUI arrest. Our firm can create a defense based on your specific situation and guide you through the process with the goal of minimizing DUI penalties or dropping the charges whenever possible. It’s our job to advocate for you, no matter what. Let us help you overcome the tangled web of Arizona’s DUI charges after a marijuana-related offense. Contact us whenever you need to for a consult.
