Illegal Drugs
The drug driving limits that have been introduced for legal medications are intended to allow law abiding motorists to continue to drive despite any ongoing need to take medication. The same cannot be said for a number of illegal substances and zero tolerance drugs if found in a driver’s system.
The government’s stance towards the illegal substances they have identified is nothing short of “Zero Tolerance” and if even a minuscule amount of these substances is detected, it will make no difference to argue that your driving was not impaired in any way.
On the following pages we have provided more free information about the various drugs, their effects, and how long they are likely to stay in your system after taking them.
There are a multitude of unique case strategies we can apply to defend a drug driving case to ensure you are not convicted. Alternatively, if you wish to plead guilty but minimise the penalty you face, we are able to offer a number of packages to suit all budgets with our guilty plea options.
| ‘Illegal’ drugs (‘accidental exposure’ – zero tolerance approach) | Threshold limit in microgrammes per litre of blood (µg/L) |
|---|---|
| Benzoylecgonine
Benzoylecgonine is the compound tested for in most substantive cocaine urinalyses. It is the corresponding carboxylic acid of cocaine, its methyl ester. |
50µg/L |
| Cocaine
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid that is created from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine has a minor number of appropriate medical applications. |
10µg/L |
| Delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol (Cannabis)
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three different species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. These species are indigenous to Central and South Asia. Various extracts including hashish and hash oil are also produced from the plant. |
2µg/L |
| Ketamine
Ketamine is a medication used mostly for anesthesia. Additional uses include sedation in intensive care. Ketamine can be used as a pain killer; treatment of bronchospasm; treatment for complex regional pain syndrome and as an antidepressant. |
20µg/L |
| Lysergic acid diethylamide
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25 was the hallucinogenic trend of the swinging sixties! Also known as lysergide, colloquially as acid, it is a psychedelic drug that continues to be taken (and not just by ageing hippies). |
1µg/L |
| Methylamphetamine
Methamphetamine is also know as Yabba, Tina and Christine, Meth, Ice, Glass, Crystal Meth, Crank. Methamphetamine is part of the amphetamine family of stimulant drugs. |
10µg/L |
| Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)
MDMA is a psychoactive drug of the substituted methylenedioxyphenethylamine and substituted amphetamine classes of drugs. MDMA has become widely known as “ecstasy”, usually referring to its tablet street form. |
10µg/L |
| 6-monoacetylmorphine (Heroin)
Heroin is possibly the most well known of Class A drugs conjouring up images of ravaged skeletal drug addicts depicted in anti-drug campaigns of the 80’s. |
5µg/L |
Cannabis (THC)
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three different species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. These species are indigenous to Central and South Asia. Various extracts including hashish and hash oil are also produced from the plant. Cannabis has long been used for hemp fibre, for seed and seed oils…
Cocaine (and a cocaine metabolite, BZE)
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid that is created from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine has a minor number of appropriate medical applications. It was historically used as a current anesthetic in eye and nasal surgery, while now it is mainly used for nasal and lacrimal duct surgery. In 2005, academics from Kyoto University Hospital projected…
Ecstasy (MDMA)
MDMA is a psychoactive drug of the substituted methylenedioxyphenethylamine and substituted amphetamine classes of drugs. MDMA has become widely known as “ecstasy”, usually referring to its tablet street form. The UK term “Mandy” and the US term “Molly” colloquially refer to Ecstasy…
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
Possibly made famous by the cult Beatles tune “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25 was the hallucinogenic trend of the swinging sixties! Also known as lysergide, colloquially as acid, it is a psychedelic drug that continues to be taken (and not just by ageing hippies) today…
Ketamine
Ketamine is a medication used mostly for anesthesia. Additional uses include sedation in intensive care. Ketamine can be used as a pain killer; treatment of bronchospasm; treatment for complex regional pain syndrome and as an antidepressant. Ketamine induces a trance like state while inducing memory loss, sedation, and providing pain relief…
Heroin diamorphine metabolite (6-MAM)
Heroin is possibly the most well known of Class A drugs conjouring up images of ravaged skeletal drug addicts depicted in anti-drug campaigns of the 80’s. Most may think that driving whilst using heroin is an impossibility but for functioning heroin addicts there is a real risk of a drug driving conviction if you get behind the wheel even days after taking the drug…
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is also know as Yabba, Tina and Christine, Meth, Ice, Glass, Crystal Meth, Crank. Methamphetamine is part of the amphetamine family of stimulant drugs. Taking Methamphetamine makes users feel very upbeat, alert and thrilled as well as nervous, obsessed, confused and aggressive…
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
This drug is found in cannabis and it what causes the cells in the brain to release the pleasure chemical “dopamine” which gives the user a sense of euphoria. THC’s chemical structure is like one of the brain’s natural chemicals anandamide. Similarity in structure allows drugs to be recognized by the body and to alter normal brain communication…
Useful Links for Zero Tolerance Drugs
Ecstasy:
Extensive information about Ecstasy.
Cannabis:
Extensive information about Cannabis (more than is found on most webpages relating to the drug).
LSD:
Extensive information about LSD.
Ketamine:
Extensive information about Ketamine.
Heroin:
Extensive information about Heroin.
Cocaine:
Extensive information about Cocaine, including FAQs.
Methylamphetamine:
Extensive information about Methylamphetamine.
THC:
What is THC
Side effects tetrahydrocannabinol
Live Science and Live Strong Articles about THC (Difficult to find any further information other than Cannabis as this is the active ingredient).
