Skiing and snowboarding are dangerous sports (at least once you make it past the bunny slopes) which involve traveling at high speeds with very little protection, making split-second decisions that could mean the difference between making it down the mountain unharmed and plowing into a tree. It’s not the kind of thing you want to do while hopelessly inebriated on any substance, cannabis included.
But with microdosing all the rage, people are pairing cannabis with almost any activity. So it’s no surprise that states with some of the best slopes have been compelled to pass laws designed to restrict cannabis use while skiing or ban it entirely. Responsible consumers who want to stay on the right side of the law, read on for our state-by-state guide to marijuana use on the slopes.
California
Unlike some other states, California has no statewide restrictions against skiing or snowboarding under the influence (of any substance). But while the state level is staying out of it, resort-dense Placer County has stepped in. In Placer County, skiing “under the influence” of alcohol or “any drug” is an infraction punishable by a $100 fine.
Elsewhere in California, you’re pretty safe as long as you don’t crash into anyone. “Reckless” skiers who cause bodily harm can be prosecuted in any state, and the courts won’t look favorably on the recreational intoxicants in your system if that happens.
Colorado
Colorado passed the Ski Safety Act back in 2006. It mostly spells out a lot of common sense laws on what’s the responsibility of the skier, and what’s the responsibility of the slope operator, but it also includes a section on skiing under the influence. The use of a ski slope (even just riding the ski lift) while “impaired” by alcohol or drugs is a class two petty offence, and it will earn you a $1,000 fine.
Oregon and Washington
Oregon and Washington currently have no restrictions against skiing or snowboarding under the influence. Like California, that’s mostly due to the language of their DUI laws. In those states and several others, a DUI cannot be issued to any man-powered vehicle that is not operated on a street, which means skiing under the influence is legally permissible, but snowmobiles are not. Many states just don’t have those sorts of laws on the books outside of their DUI laws.
Wyoming
Wyoming takes skiing under the influence pretty seriously. If you use a slope or ski trail while your “ability to do so is impaired” by drugs or alcohol, prepare to spend the next 20 days in jail and/or hand over $200; a 2012 Wyoming statue makes it a misdemeanor offence.
Nevada
We’re going to go ahead and say if you’re considering consuming marijuana products and snowboarding in Nevada- don’t. If you get on a slope “while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance” it’s a misdemeanor offence, punishable by a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both. They do make exceptions for “lawfully issued prescriptions,” so if your doctor has prescribed you cannabis products, you should be in the clear, but you might not want to put yourself in the position of having to argue that point to a judge.
