BOSTON — As more states legalize cannabis for medicinal and recreational use, law enforcement faces increasing challenges with drug-impaired driving. Officers often struggle to detect cannabis-related impairment on the road due to limited research and training. To address this, the Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department developed “green labs” training to provide officers with essential skills to confidently assess impairment and make sound arrest decisions.
During a session at the IACP 2024 police leadership conference, Montgomery County Officer Jayme Derbyshire and Lieutenant John O’Brien discussed how agencies of any size can implement Green Labs and why such training is crucial in today’s environment.
What is green labs training?
Green labs training involves a hands-on, immersive experience where officers interact directly with real cannabis users in controlled environments. The Montgomery County training typically includes a six-hour classroom component that covers the effects of cannabis on the body, methods of ingestion and impairment indicators, followed by a two-hour lab session.
During the lab, cannabis users, who are compensated for their participation, consume edibles or inhale cannabis while officers observe and assess their behaviors through field sobriety tests like the Modified Romberg Balance Test and finger-to-nose exercises. This approach allows officers to better recognize the subtle signs of cannabis impairment and builds confidence in making accurate arrest decisions, while also testing new technology for roadside impairment detection.
Who: 10-12 certified medical cannabis patients (initially), approximately 25 officers (mostly patrol and/or specialized street-based units). Auditors: legislators, judges, prosecutors, lab personnel, traffic safety experts.
What: 1 lab per quarter, evening hours.
When: 6 hours of classroom, 2 hours of lab, working dinner.
Where: Predetermined venue with classroom and consumption area.
How: Consumers dose twice throughout the evening — edibles, alcohol, inhalation.
Classroom portion:
- SFST refresher
- Legal update
- ARIDE tests
- Methods of ingestion
Consumption portion:
- Initial screening
- 30-minute consumption period
- Dialogue regarding effects
- Review of accessories
“Green labs provide officers with real users to interact with, offering valuable firsthand experience in detecting impairment.”
Why is training to identify cannabis-impaired driving important?
Currently 24 states have medicinal/recreational legalization on the books and 38 states have legalized the medicinal use of cannabis. More than 86% of Americans now live in a state where cannabis is legal on some level. As of January 1, 2024, there were 12,156 total dispensaries in the United States. In comparison, there are 15,270 Starbucks and 13,562 McDonalds.
Since 2013, The Rocky Mountain HIDTA, has published annual reports tracking the impact of legalizing recreational marijuana in Colorado:
- Since recreational marijuana became legalized, traffic deaths where drivers tested positive for marijuana increased by 138% while all Colorado traffic deaths increased by 29%.
- Traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana nearly doubled from 55 in 2013 to 131 people killed in 2020.
- The percentage of all Colorado traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana increased from 11% in 2013 to 20% in 2020.
“The perception of risk is downplayed, with many cannabis users believing it’s safer than alcohol, but it’s not safer than being sober.”
Top takeaways from the session
Here are key takeaways from the session on training officers to identify cannabis-impaired driving through green labs training.
1. Increased cannabis use requires specialized training
With cannabis legalization expanding across states, both medical and recreational users are increasing. However, officers often face challenges in recognizing cannabis impairment, especially during roadside interactions. Green labs training offers a solution by simulating real-world scenarios where officers engage directly with cannabis users, enabling them to better detect and understand impairment signs. This immersive training is particularly important because cannabis impairment presents differently than alcohol, with cognitive rather than physical symptoms often dominating.
As Lt. O’Brien noted, “Just because you smell it doesn’t always mean the person is impaired. What we don’t want to do is have officers placing people under arrest, seizing property, or towing vehicles if they can safely operate their vehicle.”
“Training officers to recognize cannabis impairment is critical — not just more Drug Recognition Experts (DREs), but better training for all officers.”
2. Real-world scenarios enhance officer confidence and decision-making
One of the main advantages of green labs is the provision of hands-on experience. Officers can observe and interact with real cannabis users in controlled settings, gaining firsthand exposure to impairment signs such as delayed reaction times, difficulty with coordination, and altered judgment. This practical experience is invaluable because it boosts officer confidence in identifying impairment during traffic stops, which in turn leads to faster and more accurate arrest decisions. Officers trained through green labs are able to provide stronger, more detailed field reports and courtroom testimony, reinforcing the quality of cases brought forward for prosecution.
“We’ve trained nearly 400 law enforcement professionals and 50 prosecutors, and what we’ve found is that officers who’ve gone through green labs make faster, more confident decisions during traffic stops, leading to stronger cases in court,” Officer Derbyshire emphasized.
Missed the last episode? Listen here as Officer Jayme Derbyshire explores the evolving relationship between cannabis legalization and policing. Follow on Spotify https://t.co/S2YGeL7WQk YouTube https://t.co/gfHKYFpmDN #mcpd #Podcast pic.twitter.com/NsEpkDXiQX
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) September 30, 2024
3. Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) are not enough — comprehensive training is essential
While Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) play a crucial role in detecting impaired drivers, the responsibility cannot solely rest on their shoulders. Many agencies face a shortage of DREs, and with the increasing prevalence of cannabis use, patrol officers on the frontlines need more comprehensive training. Green labs provide these officers with the skills to recognize cannabis impairment from the outset, equipping them with knowledge beyond the basic field sobriety tests. Additional training in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) is recommended, ensuring that all patrol officers — not just DREs — are prepared to handle these complex traffic stops.
4. Cannabis impairs cognitive functions, making driving risky despite user perceptions
Many cannabis users believe they drive better while under the influence, a perception that can lead to dangerous outcomes on the road. Unlike alcohol, where impairment tends to manifest through physical symptoms like slurred speech or an inability to walk straight, cannabis impairment primarily affects cognitive abilities. Users may experience slowed reaction times, impaired decision-making and difficulty judging distances. Green labs highlight these cognitive impacts through controlled training environments, helping officers understand the subtle yet significant ways cannabis affects driving. This knowledge is crucial as officers work to maintain traffic safety in areas where cannabis use is common.
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5. Collaboration with communities and experts enhances training outcomes
Effective cannabis impairment training requires collaboration with both the cannabis community and academic researchers. The Montgomery County Police Department works with universities, cannabis dispensaries and medical professionals to gain a broader understanding of cannabis consumption patterns and its effects on driving. For example, partnerships with institutions like Morgan State University, which provides driving simulators to demonstrate how cannabis consumption can impact reaction times and decision-making behind the wheel. Furthermore, engaging with the cannabis community through these labs fosters better relationships and promotes traffic safety education among users. By building these partnerships, agencies not only improve officer training but also contribute to the larger goal of reducing impaired driving incidents.
“What we’re seeing now is more cannabis consumers operating vehicles. The one thing we can all agree on is that we want our roads to be safe,” noted Lt. O’Brien.
For more information on the green labs training, email Officer Derbyshire or Lt. O’Brien.
