Legal marijuana and driving under the influence in Illinois

 Posted on July 09, 2021 in Drug Offenses

In 2020, Illinois was the 11^th state in the United States to legalize marijuana use for recreational purposes. Adults over the age of 21 can now purchase marijuana from licensed sellers without fear of arrest and criminal charges. You may believe this is a positive step for many in the state, but it is important to note that there are strict laws regarding the purchase and use of recreational marijuana.

The passage of this law does not mean there are no more regulations on marijuana. Misuse of recreational marijuana can still result in arrest and grave charges, especially if you drive while under the influence of this type of drug. If you are facing charges for operating a vehicle after using legal recreational marijuana, you would be wise to take your situation seriously and develop a strong defense strategy.

Facts about recreational marijuana in Illinois

It is in your interests to understand the recreational marijuana laws in the state in order to avoid problems. The following facts may be helpful to you:

• Adults aged 21 and up can only purchase recreational marijuana from licensed sellers.
• There are specific limits to how much cannabis and cannabis-infused products one can possess.
• It is illegal to smoke legal recreational marijuana in public places, motor vehicles, on school grounds, near people under the age of 21 and more.

It is always illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs. Legalized recreational and medical marijuana use does not change this. If arrested for this violation, you could face serious criminal and administrative repercussions.

Penalties you could face

Driving while high can result in penalties similar to those you could face if convicted of drunk driving. This includes the possibility of time behind bars, loss of your driver's license and more. After an arrest, you would be wise to begin working on a defense strategy by which you can effectively confront any charges you are facing.

It is in your interests to know about how the changing marijuana laws in Illinois could affect you. If you are facing any type of criminal charges as a result of a drug violation or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you would be wise not to lose any time in learning how you can fight for your future interests and personal freedom.