Smoking marijuana and driving in Detroit: What’s legal? What’s not?

Where Detroit led on the issue of legalizing recreational marijuana, the rest of the state of Michigan eventually followed.

It was 2012 when Detroit voters approved Proposition M to decriminalize the use and possession of recreational marijuana by adults over 21 years of age. It took another six years for the rest of the state to follow suit. That said, in 2008, Michigan voters from across the state decided to legalize medical marijuana for lawfully registered users 18 years of age or older.

With all of these relatively new laws, the legal landscape concerning marijuana use and driving has changed considerably.

It’s essential that drivers in Detroit and throughout the state be aware of what they can and cannot do when it comes to driving and using or consuming marijuana.

Generally, the rules regarding marijuana (whether it’s recreational or medical in nature) and driving that Detroiters and others should keep in mind are:

• You cannot drive under the influence of marijuana
• You cannot consume marijuana while driving
• Both drivers and passengers are prohibited from smoking marijuana inside the passenger compartment of a car or truck while it’s on a public road

To learn more about your rights and the laws when it comes to using marijuana and driving, please check out “Marijuana and Driving Laws in Michigan: What You Need To Know.”