Experienced Marijuana DUI Attorneys in Riverside, CA
There’s an urban legend among many marijuana users that you are actually a better and safer driver while under the influence of cannabis. Yet if you’re pulled over by the police, the officers aren’t likely to be sympathetic to this defense. In California, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana, alcohol, or any other controlled drugs. Even a first-time marijuana DUI offense in California can result in three to five years of probation and drug testing, 96 hours to six months in jail, community service, a fine of $390 to $1000, a driver’s license suspension of six months, and a mandatory DUI program. (This includes drivers with a valid prescription for medical marijuana.)
California also has an implied consent law, which means that as soon as you get behind the wheel, you have legally promised to provide consent for blood or urine drug testing following a lawful DUI arrest. Refusal to submit to these tests can result in mandatory jail time and fines if convicted.
However, while police can perform roadside breathalyzer tests to determine your precise blood alcohol content (BAC) levels, no such test is yet available for marijuana. This means police will have to refer to blood or urine test results, which cannot show WHEN a person took marijuana, only that they did take marijuana at some point in the past. Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration admits, “It is difficult to establish a relationship between a person’s THC blood or plasma concentration and performance impairing effects.”
If you have been arrested for a marijuana DUI in Riverside, California, it is important that you hire a Riverside DUI attorney with experience handling these complicated cases. Since the legalization of medical marijuana in California, Riverside DUI attorneys have seen a number of drivers arrested for suspicion of marijuana use. Yet proving impairment is not always as simple as it can be in alcohol-related DUI cases.
That is why it is crucial to hire local marijuana DUI attorneys to hear your side of the story. If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence of a drug or drugs, then don’t wait to contact Greenberg, Greenberg & Kenyon for an initial consultation.
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This law firm is truly top tier and I feel super grateful to have found them to help me with my case. I am blessed to be here with my family and still have my job knowing everything will be okay.- Gabriela V.
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harles Kenyon stepped in and delivered an outstanding defense. He didn’t just win the case; he saved my grandson’s life. The entire firm is compassionate, communicative, and we cannot recommend them highly enough!- Kristin P.
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From start to finish Mr. Kenyon was extremely helpful. Walked me through the entire process. Anytime I had a question I could call and ask. This was my first time going to court and I was nervous. Once I spoke with Kenyon he put my mind at ease.- Casey A.
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They guided us through every step of the way, making the process effortless for me. With their expertise, our case was successfully resolved, making the court appearances stress-free.- Kimberly D.
How Do the Police Prove You Were High While Driving?
In 2003, California became one of the only states in the country to legalize medical marijuana in the aptly named Senate Bill 420. While California has yet to legalize recreational marijuana like Washington, California is home to some of the most permissive attitudes regarding marijuana anywhere. In cities like Los Angeles, it is not unusual to see people smoking marijuana in public, in their cars, or in their front yards.
Yet even in a time when Californians are largely sympathetic to legalizing marijuana, driving while high can still result in very serious DUI charges, meaning several years of probation, possible jail time, loss of your driver’s license, community service, and/or fines.
One of the most common questions Riverside DUI attorneys hear is, “Can I still be arrested for a marijuana DUI if I have a medical marijuana prescription?” Remember: there is no exception for driving under the influence of marijuana even if you have a valid medical prescription.
Because there is no reliable roadside sobriety test for marijuana, and because even blood and urine drug tests cannot provide definitive answers, marijuana DUIs require subjective opinions about your driving. This means that in addition to drug tests, the police can take into account your physical appearance (red eyes or marijuana odor), your driving, and your performance on field sobriety tests.
Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, the courts there have developed new standards for determining marijuana impairment (at least five nanograms active THC per milliliter of blood), but ultimately the prosecution will likely rely on subjective evidence to convict you of marijuana DUI charges in Riverside, CA. This means that experienced Riverside DUI attorneys can help you! In some cases, marijuana DUI charges can be dismissed or reduced due to lack of evidence.
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Here's What Sets Greenberg, Greenberg & Kenyon Apart
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Decades of Criminal Defense
Since 1980, our attorneys have handled a wide spectrum of criminal cases, bringing seasoned judgment and steady guidance to every matter.
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Prosecutorial Perspective
With backgrounds as former prosecutors, we anticipate the opposition’s approach and pinpoint case vulnerabilities from the outset.
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Have questions? Ready to get started? Call (951) 574-2281 today to schedule a free consultation. We return calls promptly and walk you through every step of the legal process.
