Many people in Michigan are arrested and subjected to OWI charges after they’ve been drinking alcohol. Maybe they went to a college football game or spent a day at the beach with their friends, and they got pulled over while driving home. A breath test showed that they had a BAC that was over 0.08%, so they were arrested.
All that being said, it is important to know that you don’t necessarily have to drink alcohol to face OWI charges under Michigan law.
Using marijuana products
To begin with, recreational marijuana is legal in Michigan, and it has become very common. Many people will use products like vapes, joints or edibles. As long as people are 21 years old, it’s fully legal for them to do this, just as if they were purchasing alcohol products. But it is not legal to drive a vehicle while under the influence of these products. Some edibles can last for 3 to 4 hours, for example, so people need to be wary of when they drive after using marijuana.
Using medication
Additionally, there are some medications that can have an impact on driving ability. This is true for both over-the-counter medicine and prescription medications. The key is to look at the instructions and see if they tell you not to operate heavy machinery after using these drugs. If so, that means you cannot drive your car until the medication is no longer active in your system. Possessing the medicine itself isn’t illegal, but driving while it could impair your judgement is.
If you find yourself facing serious OWI charges – for any reason – that could impact your future, take the time to look into all of your legal options. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.