Taking medication as prescribed or using a legal cannabis product may feel far removed from drunk driving. But Minnesota law can still treat drug-related driving as a DWI when a substance affects a person’s ability to drive. A lawful prescription or legal product does not automatically answer whether someone can safely operate a vehicle.
For Minnesota drivers, understanding how the law treats prescription drugs, cannabis and other substances can help put a DWI charge into perspective.
Minnesota law covers more than illegal drugs
A Minnesota driver may face legal consequences when drug use affects the ability to operate a vehicle safely. The law also covers certain intoxicating substances and driving under the influence of cannabis or cannabis products.
The law may also apply when testing detects certain drugs or substances in a driver’s system. This provision does not require the state to prove that the driver knew the substance was present.
People who take prescription medication legally may have additional protections under Minnesota law. A defense may apply when someone uses certain medications according to the doctor’s instructions. How the person got and used the medication may therefore matter in a DWI case.
What can affect a drug-related DWI case?
The circumstances surrounding the substance and the driving conduct may become important when a person faces a drug-related DWI. Relevant details can include:
- Whether the substance came from a valid prescription
- Whether the person followed the prescription’s terms
- Whether the substance was cannabis, another controlled substance or an intoxicating substance
- Whether evidence indicates impairment while driving
- What chemical testing showed about substances in the person’s body
A lawful prescription does not necessarily prevent a DWI charge based on alleged impairment. At the same time, a positive test does not by itself answer every legal issue in a case.
Understanding how these facts interact can help a driver assess the potential consequences and available defenses.
Get informed about the next steps
A drug-related DWI can raise complicated questions about testing, prescriptions, impairment and the circumstances of the traffic stop. Anyone facing a Minnesota DWI charge should consider speaking with a Minnesota DWI attorney who can review the specific facts and explain available legal options.
