Since the passage of the voter approved initiative to legalize use of marijuana, DUID (Driving Under the Influence of a Drug) cases testing positive for marijuana, or its metabolites have increased by 17% and 119% since 2017, according to the Montana Department of Justice. Tetrahydrocannibinol/THC (marijuana) concentrations in these cases has trended upward since 2017. In 2021, there were 621 cases, 2020 530 cases, 2019 464 cases, 2018 454 cases and 2017 284 cases.
The latest report from the DOJ shows the most detected drugs and the percentage based on total submitted samples tested for drugs, is pot 20% (all), 47% drug.
Methamphetamine was the second most detected detected drug, with fentanyl in the top five drugs found in drivers blood streams in Montana after being tested roadside.
The states’ laboratory runs the toxicology and in some cases, drivers test positive for multiple drugs and alcohol at the same roadside test.
If you would like more information, you can check out the MT DOJ’s Forensic Science Division annual 2021 report.