With the recent legalization of marijuana in some nearby western states it is important to understand how, if at all, those laws affect us in Utah. Of course marijuana is still not legal in Utah so any possession, use, or distribution of marijuana is still illegal. Most people understand this aspect of the new laws but what is less understood is how you could possibly be charged with a crime in Utah almost a month after having consumed marijuana legally in a nearby state.
DUI Metabolite
When most people thing of a DUI they think of drunk driving, while this is obviously the most common scenario there are also other ways of being charged with a DUI, like driving under the influence of marijuana for example. One of the ways you could be charged with a DUI for consuming marijuana is if a blood test is done that shows there is marijuana in your system, this is called a DUI Metabolite. The difficulty is that marijuana can stay in your system for more than a month and show up as a metabolite on a blood test even though you have smoked in weeks. So if you’re thinking about going to a state where marijuana is now legal to consume of marijuana then be aware that you may run the risk of being pulled over, having blood taken, and facing criminal charges for a DUI metabolite.
Criminal Defense and DUI Attorney in Provo
If you are facing a DUI or DUI metabolite charge then you need to protect your rights and make sure you have an attorney to help you mitigate the damage. The law is stacked against you and a blood test showing marijuana in your system can often be insurmountable evidence. With the help of the attorneys at Provo DUI Defense you can make sure that the penalties you are facing are not as bad as they would be otherwise and that your future will not be placed in jeopardy for this one mistake. Call or email us today to find out more.
