California’s Driving While Under the Influence Laws
At Strains Dispensary in Perris, we are committed to being a responsible business and a trusted part of California’s cannabis industry by strictly adhering to all state and county rules, regulations, and laws. We also encourage our customers to follow California’s laws when traveling to and from our dispensary—or anywhere else.
While many of our customers are already well-informed about driving laws and understand that driving under the influence of cannabis is both unsafe and illegal, we recognize that some may be new to cannabis or to California. If you’re unfamiliar with these regulations, we strongly encourage you to review California’s laws regarding driving under the influence and to always make the responsible choice never to drive while impaired.
California Law, Legal Cannabis, & Driving Under the influence of THC
Although some people believe they can drive safely after consuming THC, we strongly advise against it and urge all our patients to follow California law, which strictly prohibits driving while under the influence of cannabis. Driving under the influence of THC is illegal and, in California, is prosecuted in much the same way as driving under the influence of alcohol.
While there’s ongoing debate about exactly how cannabis affects driving performance, California’s research shows that drivers under the influence of cannabis are about twice as likely to be involved in a collision compared to sober drivers. Although this risk may be lower than that associated with alcohol, it still poses a significant danger to you, your passengers, and others on the road.
Don’t take the risk — never drive under the influence of cannabis.
Penalties for Driving While Under the Influence of THC
With the penalties for driving under the influence including jail time, we don’t recommend doing it. Beyond jail time, those caught driving under the influence of THC in California can be subjected to punishments including suspended driver’s license, mandatory classes, and costly fines! If the marijuana DUI includes bodily injury, the potential consequences increase considerably; and if the DUI causes death, the ultimate punishment is being found guilty of a felony – negligent vehicular manslaughter with associated prison time. Considering these penalties, it is clear that it is always best to not drive while under the influence.