Court ruling gives medical marijuana card holders defense in DUI cases

TUCSON – An Arizona Supreme Court ruling gives medical marijuana card holders a new defense in DUI cases, according to DUI attorney James Nesci.

“But the defense is kind of screwy because you have to prove that you were not impaired,” Nesci said. “How do you prove you're not impaired?”

Crime labs test for a chemical called THC, which can stay in a person’s blood long after they use marijuana.

“There are no studies that show how much THC impairs a person. That's the first thing,” Nesci said. “Second thing we also know is this, tolerance plays a big deal in that.”

Nesci believes the new ruling may be unconstitutional, but it could be the law for years.

“That stands due process on its head,” he said. “Because it's the government that has to prove that you are impaired. You never have to prove your innocence.”

A person in Arizona can get...

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