Marijuana Users Face Unintended DUI Consequences in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s current DUI laws can lead to drivers being charged with driving under the influence, even if they haven’t consumed marijuana in days. The state’s laws allow for prosecution of DUI cases based on the presence of marijuana in a driver’s system, but there is no way to confirm through urine or blood testing whether the driver was impaired at the time of the arrest.
According to attorney Clay Curtis, Oklahoma’s laws are particularly harsh for marijuana users who drive, leaving them vulnerable to criminal prosecution. Curtis notes that the state does not utilize alternative testing methods, which is a significant part of the problem.
Marijuana can remain detectable in the blood for up to 12 hours and in urine for up to 30 days, according to American Addiction Centers. This means that even if a driver has not consumed marijuana recently, they can still be charged with a DUI if their blood or urine tests positive for THC metabolites.
Curtis warns that if a driver is involved in an accident and their blood is taken by law enforcement, it is likely they will face criminal prosecution, even if they were not impaired at the time of the accident. This highlights the need for Oklahoma to reexamine its DUI laws and consider alternative testing methods to ensure that drivers are not unfairly targeted.
