Nevada, the hometown state of Burning Man‘s stomping grounds of Black Rock City, recently legalized recreational cannabis. Sales of the plant are to begin in July. However, Nevada’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a different idea in mind.
The BLM announced in a statement this week published in the Federal Register that driving at Burning Man while under the influence of 10 nanograms of cannabis per milliliter of urine qualifies as a DUI.
Of course, in order to be pulled over there must be probable cause, though these are always interestingly defined and a bit subjective. The guidelines in the statement notes that erratic driving or the possession of drug paraphernalia can qualify as this probable cause to be pulled over.
Cannabis Now spoke with a cannabis legal theorist, Attorney Lauren Vazquez, to explain how she sees the situation:
“It looks to me like they are setting a standard for drivers on the playa. It does say probable cause is required… This is a rule making proposal and will soon be open to public comment and, hopefully, revisions. Knowing burners there’s going to be a lot of talks…
‘It’s only on the playa, and it takes probable cause to search the driver by saliva or blood or urine. Just being at Burning Man is not probable cause — they have to smell weed, see you driving badly or see you doing drugs while driving before they can test you. So just sitting in line on the way out is safe.”
h/t Cannabis Now
