Germany Sets New Limits For Driving Under The Influence Of Marijuana, Berlin Confirms Cannabis Club Oversight
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signed into law a bill Friday regulating driving under the influence of cannabis.
In June, the Bundestag set a maximum allowed limit of THC – the psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant – for drivers at 3.5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. That’s equivalent to 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
Even stricter rules are set for new drivers as mixing cannabis with alcohol is not allowed under the new law, writes Taz, according to translation.
Under the new law, which takes effect this week, anyone driving with 3.5 nanograms or more of THC in their system risks a fine of 500 euros ($554) and a one-month driving ban. Mixing alcohol with cannabis risks a fine of 1,000 euros. During the two-year probationary periods for new drivers and those under 21, cannabis use is strictly forbidden. Violators can be fined 250 euros.
According to the German Society for Traffic Medicine (DGVM), occasional marijuana consumers could reach the new threshold of 3.5 nanograms within 3 to 5 hours of smoking a joint. However, these guidelines may not always be applicable because the potency of cannabis in a joint can vary.
The DGVM further advises that occasional marijuana smokers wait at least 12 hours before driving and 24 hours after consuming cannabis edibles. Regular users should wait several days before driving because THC is lipid-soluble, meaning it is stored in the fatty tissues of certain organs.THC is slowly released back into the bloodstream …