Drugged Driving | Meet the Effects
Meet The Weed Effects
THC is proven to slow reaction time, reduce focus, and temporarily weaken problem solving skills. Consuming THC affects you differently than alcohol, but it impairs driving ability all the same. CDOT’s Meet The Effects Campaign is committed to raising awareness of the dangers of driving high. When someone is high behind the wheel, the chances of a crash are doubled, and the chances of a DUI are even higher. The average cost of a DUI is $13,500 for alcohol and drugs. Keep your high harmless and off the road.
Featured News
Cannabis... in a can?
In just a few years, drinkable cannabis products have proliferated outside of licensed cannabis retail locations (dispensaries). They are appearing in more places than ever before and are even available online. But what’s inside those cans can vary quite a bit. The labels look similar — but the effects are not.
How long should I wait to drive after getting high?
In 2025, Colorado experienced its most deadly year for impaired driving since 2022. More than 230 lives were lost in impaired driving-related crashes. It's up to all Coloradans to put safety first, and one of the best safety measures you can take when consuming cannabis is to wait before you get behind the wheel.
The question is: how long do you need to wait before driving?
What happens when you mix cannabis and alcohol?
Have you ever heard of polyconsumption? It may sound like a complex medical term, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a pretty simple definition: Polyconsumption is “the use of more than one drug, also known as polysubstance use. This includes when two or more intoxicating substances are taken together, either intentionally or unintentionally.”
Essentially, every time you drink a beer and smoke a joint, you are poly-consuming.
Am I too high to drive?
Cannabis, like life, is complicated. Calculating cannabis impairment (and how it impacts your ability to drive) is really hard. Our recommendation? Wait it out. Your level of impairment will depend on the dose and the method of consumption. Remember: As little as 10 mg of cannabis can be enough to impair you.
Can I get a DUI for driving high?
We all know the consequences and dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, but do the same rules apply to driving high? Many cannabis consumers feel calmer and more focused after they smoke or take an edible, so that means it’s safe and legal to get behind the wheel, right? Let’s take a closer look.
Find out more in the Can I get a DUI for driving high article.
How to get your license back after a DUI
Just as with an alcohol-related DUI, getting your Colorado driver’s license back after a cannabis-related DUI isn’t just a matter of waiting it out — it’s a structured, lengthy and expensive process aimed at ensuring your return to driving is a safe and sober one. Colorado takes cannabis impairment behind the wheel seriously because impairment is impairment, no matter the substance.
Learn more in the How to get your license back after a DUI article.
Women speak out for cannabis safety and education
Women are at the forefront of Colorado's maturing cannabis industry, taking on roles as budtenders, dispensary owners, entrepreneurs and advocates for responsible consumption. These women are not only shaping the future of cannabis but also driving a crucial conversation about responsible consumption and safety.
Find out more in the Women. Cars. Cannabis. article.
Budtender education courses now live
CDOT, in partnership with Learn Brands, has launched an interactive cannabis-impaired driving safety course. Learn Brands is a subscription-based online budtender education platform.
Read "Want to know more about cannabis and driving? Ask your budtender" to learn more.
