State warns against driving high
Recreational cannabis sales in New Mexico begin on Friday (April 1), and while many locals and tourists might be excited to partake in the new industry, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety is reminding them that it is still illegal to drive while under the influence of cannabis.
A news release issued this week from the New Mexico Department of Public Safety states that a person with a bloodalcohol concentration of greater that 0.08 “or any drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving” will be subject to a DUI.
“Driving under the influence of drugs, including cannabis, puts others at risk, plain and simple,” said New Mexico Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason R. Bowie. “New Mexicans should know that drivers who are impaired to the slightest degree can go to jail.” Most importantly, Bowie emphasized “don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle under the influence.”
“New Mexico State Police are committed to your safety,” said Tim Johnson, chief of police of the state of New Mexico in the news release. “If you choose to drink or use cannabis, remember, there is no acceptable reason to drive under the influence. NMSP officers patrol the highways every day to keep the roads safe and will be on the lookout for impaired drivers.”
While there is not any widelyavailable technology for accurately telling how much cannabis someone has consumed before driving, the department said that in 2021, they received legislative funding to trail law enforcement officers in a “Drug Recognition Expert” certification program, which is designed to train officers to recognize signs of impairment of any type of drug.
“Cannabis has measurable psychological effects that impair drivers, including delayed or decreased reaction time, decreased short-term memory, poor hand-eye coordination, lack of concentration and a decreased perception of time and distance,” read the statement from the department.
A DUI charge can result in possible jail time, fines, the installation of an interlock device, mandatory driving/drug rehabilitation programs and more.
In the Monday night (March 28) forum for Taos County Sheriff candidates, both parties – Steve Miera and Michael Tafoya – agreed that DUIs related to cannabis are likely to become an issue.
Undersheriff Miera said he foresees DUI numbers increasing “to some degree,” while Deputy Tafoya acknowledged they are working in “uncharted areas.” Both candidates said they feel that property crime will go up when cannabis is fully legalized.