Driving Stoned? States Prep for Marijuana DUI

[Chef Ramsay]

Legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington is raising highway safety concerns. It's illegal to drive while high on pot in every state.

WASHINGTON — As states liberalize their marijuana laws, public officials and safety advocates worry that more drivers high on pot will lead to a big increase in traffic deaths. Researchers who have studied the issue, though, are divided on the question.

Studies of marijuana's effects show that the drug can slow decision-making, decrease peripheral vision and impede multitasking, all of which are critical driving skills. But unlike with alcohol, drivers high on pot tend to be aware that they are impaired and they try to compensate by driving slowly, avoiding risky actions such as passing other cars, and allowing extra room between vehicles.

On the other hand, combining marijuana with alcohol appears to eliminate the pot smoker's exaggerated caution and it seems to increase driving impairment beyond the effects of either substance alone.

More...http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0901/Driving-stoned-States-prep-for-marijuana-DUI

[Bogleg]

Thought consuming Marijuana is illegal in most states.

DUI is a bit redundancy if it is already illegal to consume.

[nothing2seeHere]

Thought consuming Marijuana is illegal in most states.

DUI is a bit redundancy if it is already illegal to consume.

If you are high but do not have any of the drug on your person then it would not be possible to charge you with possession/consumption as the government would not be able to prove that you consumed it.

If you are operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of Pot then they could get a search warrant to test their blood for levels of THC that would indicate they should not be driving.

This is a very big problem as it is much more difficulty to tell if you are "okay" to drive after smoking then it is to tell if you are "okay" to drive after drinking, as how much you drink is very measurable.

[beetcoin]

it's not worrying at all to me. take a look at colorado - after legalization, accidents dropped as well as crime. plus it's way, way easier to drive while high than it is to drive while you're drunk.

[Chef Ramsay]

it's not worrying at all to me. take a look at colorado - after legalization, accidents dropped as well as crime. plus it's way, way easier to drive while high than it is to drive while you're drunk.

That's not necessarily the major point here. Normal marijuana smokers retain lots of traces in their blood for weeks or more and theoretically can be at DUI levels behind the wheel at any time. Considering it's more of a norm in these states, there could be higher %s of people consuming mj behind the wheel making easy targets for police busting.

[beetcoin]

it's not worrying at all to me. take a look at colorado - after legalization, accidents dropped as well as crime. plus it's way, way easier to drive while high than it is to drive while you're drunk.

That's not necessarily the major point here. Normal marijuana smokers retain lots of traces in their blood for weeks or more and theoretically can be at DUI levels behind the wheel at any time. Considering it's more of a norm in these states, there could be higher %s of people consuming mj behind the wheel making easy targets for police busting.

people in every state are high as hell and it's never really been a problem. and for the state to take on this "issue" that has never really been a major issue, i don't see the point. are you for or against marijuana then? as a libertarian, i would have assumed you'd be okay with it and all.

[shogdite]

These safety advocates need to kick back and light up:

http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/newsreleases/Pages/Study-shows-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-traffic-deaths.aspx

A groundbreaking new study shows that laws legalizing medical marijuana have resulted in a nearly 9 percent drop in traffic deaths and a 5 percent reduction in beer sales.

“Our research suggests that the legalization of medical marijuana reduces traffic fatalities through reducing alcohol consumption by young adults,” said Daniel Rees, professor of economics at the University of Colorado Denver who co-authored the study with D. Mark Anderson, assistant professor of economics at Montana State University.

Even some insurance companies are saying marijuanau users are safer drivers:

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/04/auto_insurance_site_says_marijuana_users_are_safer.php

Drivers high on marijuana are less likely to drive recklessly, according to a study done in the United Kingdom in 2000 by the UK Transport Research Lab. The study was actually undertaken to prove that pot impairs driving, but instead it showed the opposite -- that stoned drivers were actually safer than many other drivers on the road.

[Matze]

it's not worrying at all to me. take a look at colorado - after legalization, accidents dropped as well as crime. plus it's way, way easier to drive while high than it is to drive while you're drunk.

That's not necessarily the major point here. Normal marijuana smokers retain lots of traces in their blood for weeks or more and theoretically can be at DUI levels behind the wheel at any time. Considering it's more of a norm in these states, there could be higher %s of people consuming mj behind the wheel making easy targets for police busting.

I don't think the levels of THC that stay in your bloodstream are at DUI levels, but are much lower levels. I am also pretty sure that is only takes ~3 days until traces of weed are gone from your blood. Hair takes much, much longer.

[chopstick]

Driving stoned is about as dangerous as driving while breathing oxygen. In many cases, you actually drive safer while stoned because you pay more attention to what's going on.

The only exception is maybe if it's their first time being stoned and they are really tripping balls or something.

Unfortunately, the DUI laws will be heavily abused to bring in money for the state, just like traffic tickets and drug laws. It doesn't matter if you are really a threat or not... they will find a way to fuck up your life over something harmless.

[Whitehouse]

Thought consuming Marijuana is illegal in most states.

DUI is a bit redundancy if it is already illegal to consume.

Many have legalized its use for medicinal purposes and some even for recreational.

You definintly shouldbt be able to drive whilst high as it definitly alters your reaction time. There's no way I'd even want to drive whilst high.