If you enjoy boating and marijuana, there are a number of things that you will need to know. The more you learn about this, the less likely you are to end up getting in legal trouble.
Effects of Marijuana
There is no question that marijuana can have a significant effect on your ability to operate a motor vehicle, including boats. It affects depth perception and reaction time, which increases your chances of getting into an accident. This is why it is never a good idea to drive any motor vehicle while smoking or shortly thereafter.
Boating Under the Influence
You’ll want to keep in mind that it is indeed possible to get in trouble for operating a boat under the influence of marijuana. It may be legal for you to have marijuana on your boat, depending on where you live. The penalties for operating a boat while high on marijuana are the same as if you were caught boating while drunk.
Those who are caught operating a boat while high will be charged with an OUI, which stands for boating under the influence. The penalty for this varies from state to state, so you will want to do some research. You could be looking at a fine or even jail time. There is also the chance that you could lose your boating license, either permanently or temporarily. The more you understand what kind of trouble you can get in for doing this, the less likely you will be to try it.
International Waters
Even those who are boating in international waters can still get in trouble for lighting up a joint or even just possessing marijuana. This is due to the fact that you and anyone else on your boat are subject to the laws of the state the boat is registered to.
Possession
Getting caught with less than an ounce of marijuana on your boat, you are probably looking at just a fine. It is important that you know where you are at any given time while on the water, as marijuana laws vary from state to state. You might just get a fine, or you could be arrested for possession on your boat depending on where you are.
Coast Guard Searches
The Coast Guard has been known to randomly search boats at sea, so there is a significant chance that you could be caught if you have marijuana onboard. Title 14 Section 89 of the U.S. Code gives them the ability to search any vehicle on the water whenever they want. This means that you don’t even need to be doing anything wrong for them to board your vessel.
The last thing you want is to get in trouble for this, as it the consequences can be rather serious. These random searches have been getting increasingly frequent over the last several years, so you’ll want to keep that in mind.
The number of marijuana-related arrests of boaters has also been on the rise. The Coast Guard is very thorough in their searches, so they will find any marijuana you may have on your boat. You shouldn’t count on being able to get any with possession by simply hiding it.
Final Thoughts
It is a good idea to wait at least a few hours after consuming cannabis before operating a boat or motor vehicle of any kind, just to be safe. You should also avoid bringing any marijuana onto your board, as you could get in big trouble. The laws regarding operating a boat while under the influence are pretty strict with severe penalties, so you don’t want to risk it.
