Drug Impaired Driving
Every state has laws dealing with alcohol-impaired driving and drug-impaired driving. But unlike the laws for drunk driving, those that address drugged driving are nuanced, difficult to enforce and prosecute and vary substantially by state.
In addition to general impairment laws, there are two basic laws that states tend to use when addressing drug-impaired driving:
- Zero Tolerance laws make it illegal to drive with any measurable amount of specified drugs in the body. These laws are best suited for illegal drugs: if it is illegal to possess or use a drug, then it is reasonable to prohibit driving after the drug has been possessed and used.
- 16 states have zero tolerance laws in effect for one or more drugs.
- Per Se laws make it illegal to drive with amounts of specified drugs in the body that exceed set limits.
- 5 states have per se laws in effect for one or more drugs.
Marijuana Drug-Impaired Driving Laws
18 states have zero tolerance or non-zero per se laws for marijuana.
- 10 states have zero tolerance for THC or a metabolite.
- 4 states have zero tolerance for THC but no restriction on metabolites.
- 4 states have specific per se limits for THC
- 1 state (Colorado) has a permissible inference law for THC
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on drug-impaired driving laws other than what is presented here. A compilation of state marijuana laws is available via the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and information on marijuana-impaired driving laws is available from the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office (SHSO).
Source: SHSOs.
Last updated in January 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
THC per se (5 ng)
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
THC per se (2 ng)
Per se >0 for some drugs
Legal for medical use
THC per se (5 ng)
Permissible inference law >0 for THC
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
Permissible inference for THC (5 ng)
None
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Legal for medical use
None
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
Decriminalized
None
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
Legal for medical use
Decriminalized
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for delta-9-THC
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized
None
Zero tolerance for THC but no restriction on metabolites (effective 8/1/23)
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational (effective 8/1/23) use
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical and recreational use
Zero tolerance for THC
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
THC per se (5 ng)
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Illegal
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical use
Zero tolerance for THC and metabolites
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Decriminalized for legal for medical use
None
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
None
None
None
Legal for medical use
None
Legal for medical use
None
None
Illegal
None
None
Illegal
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
Per se >0 for some drugs
None
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
None
None
None
None
Legal for medical use
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
None
None
Per se >0 for some drugs
Decriminalized and legal for medical and recreational use
THC per se (2 ng) for felony violations
None
Decriminalized and legal for medical use
None
None
Responsibility.org Drugged Driving Grant Results: South Dakota
DUID Training Grant: West Virginia
The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) used grant funding from GHSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to hold a multiday training session to educate participants on different aspects of drugged driving cases and the prosecution process.
The West Virginia GHSP partnered with the West Virginia Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) to organize a “West Virginia Prosecuting the Drugged Driver Course” in September 2019. Thirteen Assistant Prosecutors/Assistant Attorneys General and 12 drug recognition expert (DRE) officers attended.
DUID Training Grant: Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) used grant funding from GHSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for two oral fluid testing devices. Oklahoma’s Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence approved these devices for use but required field testing to develop proper standard procedures.
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Lyft and GHSA Partner with States to Deter Impaired Driving During the Holidays
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2019
Contact: Kara Macek, 202-789-0944
New Report Calls for "Individualized Justice" Approach to Targeting High-Risk Impaired Drivers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2019
Contact: Joe Feese, 202-580-7930
High-Risk Impaired Drivers: Combating a Critical Threat
GHSA's report, High-Risk Impaired Drivers: Combating a Critical Threat, focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with the high-risk impaired driver — a person who lacks the restraint or self-control to resist driving impaired.
Responsibility.org Drugged Driving Grant Results: Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation Office of Highway Safety used grant funding from GHSA and Responsibility.org to provide law enforcement training to enhance efforts to combat drug impaired driving through a monthly training calendar for Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement.