Thread: Pot and driving:

[QUOTE=What if...?;1059618741]Many people who use pot to manage chronic pain and other conditions cite this, that the side effects of prescription medications were unacceptable.

I've seen "studies" that "determined" that pot has no measurable pain relieving effects. But those who use it for this clearly state that it doesn't block or reduce pain so much as "distance" it. Push it out of primary attention.[QUOTE]

That is the experience of my friend. She was put on Vicodin for a neck injury and after a few days, noticed her heart rate was greatly effected, causing her to think she might have a heart attack. After the doctor took her off of it, the symptom subsided, but she was left in pain. Eventually, she obtained her medical marijuana card and is able to function without so much pain.

Originally Posted by What if...?

Vested interests with a lot to lose if this happens are why it has not.

This is another issue. People can grow it themselves or buy it cheaply without a drug company being involved. Therefore those vested interests are going to fight to keep it illegal. Which is a shame since people like my friend, who has no health insurance, can more easily afford it.

As to the OP, after reading the article, it would seem law enforcement will have to stick to impairment as the standard of whether someone is suitable to drive or not. At least until research catches up. I don't see how someone can smoke it and get safely behind the wheel of a car any more than if they drank.

I do not smoke pot. I can't, it makes me severely nauseous, ironically enough, but I wondered how medical marijuana users will be treated in various situations, like driving or getting a job. I've had pre-employment physicals where any measurable level of pot meant I didn't get the job. For people in need of pot to manage their pain, this is a problem.

I don't smoke pot, but I do believe it has medicinal benefits. A friend of mine got off narcotics that were messing up his liver by switching to (illegal) pot for inoperable back and neck pain, it worked better for his pain, and his bad side effects from narcos went away.
BUT-- there needs to be a line drawn here. People can't just fly around high on pot and kill people. Alcohol levels are very clear, whether or not they are correct. While I do not think some person that smoked pot a few day ago should get a DUI, I do think there needs to be a way to measure intoxication by marijuana that is clearly defined. As for getting in trouble for pot in a test during an accident when you are using it illegally, easy answer there-- stop smoking pot. It is illegal. Want it legal, try to make it legal. Until then, it's a crime.

Originally Posted by Kal'Stang

Wait...legalize it in order to test it? The effects of MJ can easily be tested in a laboratory. No need to legalize it just to test it. I'm not a guinea pig.

If it were legal then I think there would be a lot more effort put into testing it.

I smoke pot, I especially like hash but I never drive when I am high. Many dumb crashes on my Mt bike have convinced me it impairs your motor skills. Crashing on my bicycle out in the woods is fine, running someone over in a X walk seems just a bit much.

For me, here is the deal - Legalize weed, but if someone is smoking while driving, he should be prosecuted just as if he were drinking and driving. DUI penalties should also be severe.

Check out this thread on this exact topic: http://www.debatepolitics.com/law-an...thats-dui.html (Smoke Pot 151 hours ago? Thats a DUI)
You can smoke weed and 15+ hours later get a DUI.

Originally Posted by Kal'Stang

Pot and driving: Law enforcers struggle to define impairment level



Good article. I posted just the first 3 paragraphs but you should definitly read the whole thing.

“Marijuana is a significant and important contributing factor in a growing number of fatal accidents,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of national drug control policy in the White House and former Seattle police chief. “There is no question, not only from the data but from what I have heard in my career as a law enforcement officer.”

Yup, no matter what they say, pot is safe.....perfectly safe.

Therein lies the problem, Dan. Establishing if someone is high when something happens. Not easy like with alcohol. Unintended consequences here. Before pot is generally legal all over just like alcohol (if our gov't's bizarre azz ties to Mexico ever allow that) they need to set some standard of measuring intoxication.

As for Sawyer-- good to hear a pot smoker admit it messes you up, and you know not to drive high. But, just like drunks, some will not. Stinks that we need laws to control people that won't control themselves, but it seems we do.

Originally Posted by American

Yup, no matter what they say, pot is safe.....perfectly safe.

Yup, no matter what they say, alcohol is safe.....perfectly safe.

Originally Posted by krickitt

Therein lies the problem, Dan. Establishing if someone is high when something happens. Not easy like with alcohol. Unintended consequences here. Before pot is generally legal all over just like alcohol (if our gov't's bizarre azz ties to Mexico ever allow that) they need to set some standard of measuring intoxication.

As for Sawyer-- good to hear a pot smoker admit it messes you up, and you know not to drive high. But, just like drunks, some will not. Stinks that we need laws to control people that won't control themselves, but it seems we do.

They draw your blood and see how much stuff you have in your system. They are saying if you smoked weed within the last 4-5 days you can still get a DUI.