Rhode Island Marijuana DUI Attorney

Yes. Marijuana DUI in Rhode Island requires specialized defense work because of the technical issues around THC pharmacokinetics, Drug Recognition Expert testimony, and the lack of a per se legal limit. A marijuana DUI lawyer who understands these technical issues can build defenses that general criminal defense lawyers may miss. Read More

THC and its metabolites can remain detectable in the body for days to weeks after marijuana use, depending on frequency of use, body composition, and the testing method. Blood tests typically detect active THC for 12 to 24 hours in occasional users, longer in frequent users. Urine tests can detect Read More

A medical marijuana card in Rhode Island does not authorize you to drive while impaired. You can still be charged with marijuana DUI even with a valid medical card if the prosecution can prove actual impairment at the time of driving. The medical card provides legal protection for possession and Read More

Yes. Marijuana DUI cases in Rhode Island are often more defensible than alcohol DUI cases because of the lack of a per se THC limit. Defense angles include challenging the officer's basis for the initial stop, contesting field sobriety test administration (these tests were designed for alcohol impairment and have Read More

Marijuana DUI in Rhode Island carries the same penalty structure as alcohol DUI: first-offense penalties include fines, 30 to 180 day license suspension, mandatory DUI education, 10 to 60 hours of community service, and possible jail up to 1 year. Second and third offenses bring mandatory minimum jail time, longer Read More

Rhode Island police test for marijuana DUI primarily through officer observations, field sobriety tests, and blood or urine testing. Unlike alcohol, there is no roadside breathalyzer for marijuana, and the body metabolizes THC much more slowly than alcohol, complicating the relationship between test results and actual impairment at the time Read More

Rhode Island has no statutory per se THC blood limit for driving. Unlike alcohol DUI where 0.08 percent BAC is automatic per se DUI, marijuana DUI requires the prosecution to prove actual impairment of driving ability rather than just presence of THC in the body. This is a significant defense Read More

Yes. Driving under the influence of marijuana is a DUI offense in Rhode Island, even though recreational marijuana possession for adults 21 and over was legalized in 2022. The legal threshold for marijuana DUI is impairment, not a specific THC blood level, because Rhode Island has no statutory per se Read More