Marijuana DUI Law Changed in Arizona

The state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Arizona authorities can’t prosecute motorists in Arizona for driving under the influence of marijuana unless the driver is impaired at the time of the stop.

This ruling overturned a decision last year that upheld the right for authorities to prosecute marijuana users for driving under the influence even when there was no evidence of impairment.

The state Supreme Court explained that while state statute makes it illegal for a driver to be impaired by marijuana, the presence of inactive metabolites or non-psychoactive compounds (such as CBD) from marijuana, does not constitute impairment under the law.

Attorney Michael Alarid III stated that “this does have far-reaching impacts on medical marijuana patients… and it basically corrects an error in the interpretation of the law.”