Colorado authorities say more people are driving while high - The Denver Post

Colorado authorities say more people are driving while high - The Denver Post

Police statewide are encountering more drivers who are either under the influence of marijuana or are carrying the drug illegally with them in their vehicle, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation and local police.

Drug evaluations of impaired drivers that turned up positive for marijuana increased 35 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to state numbers. The Longmont Police Department does not keep data that reflects what substances have impaired drivers, only that a driver was impaired.

"What we're seeing is an increase, maybe, of marijuana in the car," said Longmont police Sgt. Mike Bell. "We're definitely seeing an increase in people who try to use medical marijuana as an excuse, although they have nothing to do with medical marijuana."

He said many people have failed to educate themselves on the legal requirements to use marijuana and seem to think it is a "free-for-all."