A Pennsylvania state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would protect registered medical cannabis patients from DUI charges unless there is proof that they were impaired while driving. Under current Pennsylvania law, medical cannabis patients can be charged with DUI offenses if they test positive for any amount of cannabis metabolites, even if there is no evidence of impairment.
Under a bill introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly by Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb on March 5, patients registered with the state’s medical cannabis program would be protected from such charges without evidence of impairment. The measure (House Bill 878) would amend state statute so that the presence of cannabis metabolites alone could not be used as evidence of impaired driving against registered medical cannabis patients. Patients holding commercial driver’s licenses would not be protected by the legislation, however.