Is ‘Drugged Driving’ the New ‘Drunk Driving’? Fatal Accidents Up 18%
- Posted on March 18, 2012 at 7:45pm by
Erica Ritz
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(AP) — Angeline Chilton says she can’t drive unless she smokes pot.
The suburban Denver woman uses medical marijuana to ease multiple sclerosis symptoms and says she’d never get behind the wheel right after smoking. But her case underscores a problem that no one’s sure how to solve: How do you tell if someone is too stoned to drive?
States that allow medical marijuana have grappled with determining impairment levels for years. And voters in Colorado and Washington state will decide this fall whether to legalize the drug for recreational use, bringing a new urgency to the issue.
A Denver marijuana advocate says officials are scrambling for limits in part because more drivers acknowledge using the drug.
“The explosion of medical marijuana patients has led to a lot of drivers sticking the (marijuana) card in law enforcement’s face, saying, ‘You can’t do anything to me, I’m legal,’” said Sean McAllister, a lawyer who defends people charged with driving under the influence of marijuana.
It’s not that simple. Driving while impaired by any drug is illegal in all states.
But it highlights the challenges law enforcement officers face using old tools to try to fix a new problem. Most convictions for drugged driving now are based on police observations, followed later by a blood test.
Authorities envision a legal threshold for pot that would be comparable to the blood-alcohol standard used to determine drunken driving.
But unlike alcohol, marijuana stays in the blood long after the high wears off a few hours after use, and there is no quick test to determine someone’s level of impairment — not that scientists haven’t been working on it.
Dr. Marilyn Huestis of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a government research lab, says that soon there will be a saliva test to detect recent marijuana use.
But government officials say that doesn’t address the question of impairment.
“I’ll be dead — and so will lots of other people — from old age, before we know the impairment levels” for marijuana and other drugs, said White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske.
Authorities recognize the need for a solution. Marijuana causes dizziness, slowed reaction time and drivers are more likely to drift and swerve while they’re high.
Dr. Bob DuPont, president of the Institute for Behavior and Health, a non-government institute that works to reduce drug abuse, says research proves “the terrible carnage out there on the roads caused by marijuana.”
One recent review of several studies of pot smoking and car accidents suggested that driving after smoking marijuana might almost double the risk of being in a serious or fatal crash.
And a recent nationwide census of fatal traffic accidents showed that while deadly crashes have declined in recent years, the percentage of mortally wounded drivers who later tested positive for drugs rose 18 percent between 2005 and 2011.
DuPont, drug czar for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, wrote a paper last year on drugged driving for the Obama administration, which has made the issue a priority.
Physicians say that while many tests can show whether someone has recently used pot, it’s more difficult to pinpoint impairment at any certain time.
Urine and blood tests are better at showing whether someone used the drug in the past — which is why employers and probation officers use them. But determining current impairment is far trickier.
“There’s no sure answer to that question,” said Dr. Guohua Li, a Columbia University researcher who reviewed marijuana use and motor vehicle crashes last year.
His survey linked pot use to crash risk, but pointed out wide research gaps. Scientists do not have conclusive data to link marijuana dosing to accident likelihood; whether it matters if the drug is smoked or eaten; or how pot interacts with other drugs.
The limited data has prompted a furious debate.
Proposed solutions include setting limits on the amount of the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana, THC, that drivers can have in their blood. But THC limits to determine impairment are not widely agreed upon.
Two states place the standard at 2 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Others have zero tolerance policies. And Colorado and Washington state are debating a threshold of 5 nanograms.
Such an attempt failed the Colorado Legislature last year, amid opposition from Republicans and Democrats. State officials then set up a task force to settle the question — and the panel couldn’t agree.
This year, Colorado lawmakers are debating a similar measure, but its sponsors concede they don’t know whether the “driving while high” bill will pass.
In Washington state, the ballot measure on marijuana legalization includes a 5 nanogram THC limit.
The measure’s backers say polling indicates such a driving limit could be crucial to winning public support for legalization.
“Voters were very concerned about impaired driving,” said Alison Holcomb, campaign director for Washington’s legalization measure.
Holcomb also pointed to a failed marijuana legalization proposal in California two years ago that did not include a driving THC limit.
The White House, which has a goal of reducing drugged driving by 10 percent in the next three years, wants states to set a blood-level standard upon which to base convictions, but has not said what that limit should be.
Administration officials insist marijuana should remain illegal, and Kerlikowske called it a “bogus argument” to say any legal level of THC in a driver is safe.
But several factors can skew THC blood tests, including age, gender, weight and frequency of marijuana use. Also, THC can remain in the system weeks after a user sobers up, leading to the anxiety shared by many in the 16 medical marijuana states: They could be at risk for a positive test at any time, whether they had recently used the drug or not.
A Colorado state forensic toxicologist testified recently that “5 nanograms is more than fair” to determine intoxication. But, for now the blood test proposals remain politically fraught, with supporters and opponents of marijuana legalization hinging support on the issue.
Huestis, of the government-funded drug abuse institute, says an easy-to-use roadside saliva test that can determine recent marijuana use — as opposed to long-ago pot use — is in final testing stages and will be ready for police use soon.
Researchers envision a day when marijuana tests are as common in police cars as Breathalyzers.
Until then, lawmakers will consider measures such as Colorado’s marijuana DUI proposal, which marijuana activists say imperils drivers who frequently use the drug such as Chilton, the multiple sclerosis patient.
Chilton says she smokes medical marijuana twice a day to ease tremors caused by the condition that left her homebound for years.
She says that since she began using pot she has started driving again and for the first time in five years has landed a job.
Chilton worries Colorado’s proposal jeopardizes her newfound freedom.
“I don’t drink and drive, and I don’t smoke and drive,” she said. “But my body is completely saturated with THC.”
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Comments (63)
West Coast Patriot
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:31amLook, I am a cargiver for patients in Oregon and I can tell you that any government study on this subject is BS. As a cargiver, I have two choices for my patients. I can donate $160-175.00 per ounce from a registered dispencery, or I can find a grower for my patients and help pay expenses for the operation (approx. $150.00 per month. My patients receive two ounces per month for this scenario, which is the one I use. A note here is, I do this to help patients who are disabled to a point they cannot take care of the legal aspects (traumatic brain injuries). A cargiver is not allowed to smoke themselves, so a position like this is not for people who like to partake. Here is a joke that actually has some truth to it: If marijuana was legal and you had two bars across the street from one another, one served nothing but alcohol and the other served nothing but marijuana, which bar would have the police called more often for fights? Answer: The alcohol bar. Which bar would have more people leave at closing and have more of a chance in killing innocent people? Answer: The alcohol bar as patrons from the marijuana bar would only drive five miles an hour.
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 9:06amAlcohol and tobacco are two drugs legalized by the government for recreational use. They also happen to be two of the most lethal drugs to Americans.
Report Post »Marajuana deaths currently on record total zero.
West Coast Patriot
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:18pmSmith, How is marijuana lethal? I have never seen any evidence that would support your statement, but I have seen many facts that would counter your statement.
Report Post »sasquatch08
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:53pmI have to agree that marijuana has nothing to do with “drugged driving accidents” being on the rise. People have been getting high and then behind the wheel for decades.
The difference now is that the chemical instrumentation has now gotten good enough that if you even thought about marijuana last week, you’ll come up dirty.
There is a bill that’s being fought over here in Colorado to make it the same as aggravated DUI (.16 BAC) to have 5nano-grams of THC per deciliter of blood. The problem is that if you sit down with 3 friends a split a joint 4 ways, that’s the approximate concentration they will find 14 days later in a blood test. Obviously you’re not high from that joint 14 days later. These days they can get you for “contact”, that is walking into a room where people are smoking weed 10 days after you did it.
I also agree with JRANDOLPH1200: the reason there are accidents is mainly because most people pay NO attention when they drive. I see people doing makeup regularly. I’ve even seen a guy doing a crossword on his steering wheel on a 75mph highway. No one uses turn signals. People are stupid and lazy about driving.
My major worry about this kinda crap is the unintended consequences. If you walk in on your kid smoking a joint and discipline them for it, should you get an aggravated DUI if some drunk rams your car next weekend and you need a doctor due to the OTHER person’s drunk driving??
Report Post »sasquatch08
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:10amIn short I think a lot of these “driving while intoxicated laws” are BS designed only to make lawyers rich.
In most states, you’re guilty of driving under the influence if your pupils are dilated, so driving after the eye doctor is a no-no. As is driving after using an OTC anti-histamine like Naphcon-A.
They’ll tell you, well we don’t have reliable tests for hallucinogenic drugs, so dilated pupils=DUI. We don’t know if you saw the eye doctor, used some eye drops or are on drugs like mushrooms or LSD.
Pure malarkey. But it’s the law.
Report Post »One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:37pmI have MS and have for 12 years, I take Methadone and Dilaudid for pain and a thing called baclofen for the spasticity, which is what many people claim pot helps with. I’ve done it all, and the meds described above do the job for 18 bucks a month whereas an ounce of pot at a Cali dispensary can be upwards of 600 bucks and even higher/ Do the math…and the other meds don’t intoxicate me. The choice is simple.
Another thing, not many disabled people have 6 bills to toss away a month on an ounce of weed I would think…Insurance don’t pick it up. I have it but wouldn’t spend it on THAT…alternately, you can grow it, which is free and allowed to an extent in these 14 states, but I just see it as a ploy for most of the card holders, aside from cancer pt‘s and glaucoma where it’s been proven it does help their symptoms..
Report Post »Roor rips 860
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:58pm600 an ounce damnn… straight rip off i get cali bud somethies medical sometimes not over on the east coast ozs for 330-370 a pop
Report Post »sasquatch08
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:01amLegally speaking; if you take Dilaudid, and then drive. You’re intoxicated whether you feel you are or not.
It’s the same class of drug as any of the following: codeine, methadone, morphine, Oxycontin, Darvocet, Percocet, Vicodin, Lortabs etc.
Dilaudid (hydromorphone) belongs to a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers, also called opioids. It is similar to morphine. (You’ll test dirty for opium, or heroin on a cheap store bought test).
I know you need this medication, don‘t take this as me saying that you don’t.
But be aware than in ALL states, if you have an accident, even one that’s not your fault they will take blood if you are unconscious to make sure they can give you whatever drugs they need to without worrying about adverse drug interactions.
When they find opiates in your system, regardless of prescription you are SCREWED. They don’t care about the dose. It’s there, you’re guilty of driving under the influence. Just like cocaine.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 3:20amI don‘t know what kind of crazy hydro organic nugs you’re buying at $600/oz but I‘m going to say you’re doing it wrong. You should find some high quality Kauai – almost pure sativa, smells like fruit punch, $400/oz max for some of the tastiest weed on the planet. That’s in SF tho, i’m not sure where in Cali you are.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 7:36amDang!….I hope you’re not driving around after taking dilaudid…
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 9:03amIt depends a lot how long you have been taking pain meds, I will never be out of pain the rest of my life, and take two types of pain meds. I take them so regularly my body has adjusted, and I do everyday tasks all day long. Without them I would not be able to clean and cook and garden and take care of myself and my critters. When I first started was a different story and I had to struggle, no way would I have driven a car, now it’s like taking an aspirin, and I have my life back. I’ve always said there are two types of drug users. One wants to “float” and escape, the other wants in the game of life, and is determined to take care of themselves and have a full, active life.
Report Post »Roor rips 860
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:12pmDrink dubra like its water no soda to follow drink busch by the cases only ******* use chacers. In 5 years ive never been pulled over or caused any harm to other drivers No my bud is not medical but it is shipped from Cali so the potency is equal when its hard to go on just rip da bong CT reppin.
Report Post »jrandolph1200
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 10:37pmI say bullcrap on this one. Accidents are up because nobody gives a crap anymore about other people, so they drive like they are the only ones on the road, while looking at facebook on their phones.
Report Post »LOTO
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:04pmYup, and I blame Nascar.
Report Post »I think people drove better before drinking and driving was against the law because they didn’t want to spill their beer. Now they race home to get their beer and drive like terrorists.
I dont think that driving impaired on anything in itself should be against the law. This coming from a pretty much never drinker and a total non drug user, its about liberty. We dont need task forces with new Suburbans and paying people to do a job and also paying the people that used to do the same job to find people that MIGHT have a wreck. If it wasn’t illegal to drive impaired then no one would be breaking the law. BUT damage someones property, hurt, maim, or kill someone in an “accident” and there should be some REALLY stiff consequences. This is all along lines with not using shot any larger than size 4 for turkey. Now why would that be? Because you MIGHT be hunting deer if you had bigger shot. How about punishing the ones that DID shoot a deer in Turkey season, and not the ones that MIGHT.
Clear as mud.
Salamander
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:59pmNo problem–if they can drive whilst on ‘the weed’, why not let them fly whilst on ‘the weed’! And, if it‘s okay for anyone on ’the weed’ to drive, then why restrict it to private operations! Heck, bus drivers need ‘a little ’somthin’ to stay awake, to stay sharp–why not a toke or two before leaving Port Authority in New York for a littel trip to Miami with a busload of travellers? I’m sure all those fare-paying passengers wouldn’t mind the sleep-deprived driver from taking a little hallucenogen to help him stay awake! Wow! Can you imagine a brain surgeon having a little ‘uplift’ before surgery? It’d sharpen his/her (let’s be fair, now) senses as he/she is probing around in your grey matter! Or, maybe your local iron worker, slinging steel and rivets 80 floors up? You’d have plenty of time to get out of the way if he/she dropped anything! He could just holler ‘fore’ like in golf and I’m sure everyone would have plenty of time to get out of the way–let’s see, sound travels at about 1,000 ft/sec and iron falls at about 32 ft/sec/sec–hmmm, how many floors does an I-beam have to fall to arrive at a victim at the same instant as the warning call? I thiink pot for all! Yea, pot! No more problems! No need for reality! Toke it up–to hell with responsibility!
Report Post »hi
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:11pmGeez. If you choose to take medical pot, you choose to lose your license and you have to take the bus. I can’t believe this was not part of the plan all along. It is so wrong to have loser druggies on the road who could crash into my family.
Report Post »KA-BAR
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:33amYou are beyond ignorant. Just because someone smokes weed, they are a druggie? A God given plant? It has been proven time and time again that all the ‘negative effects’ of marijuana were lies and propaganda. Anyone could crash into your family. Why don’t they take away your license if you have a cell phone? You are distracted by it when you drive. Why don’t they take away your license if you drink alcohol? More fatalities occur because of alcohol than any other drug combined. Why don’t they take your license away if you get caught speeding? That puts everyone in the immediate area at risk. Chances are if you get hit by a driver who is stoned, it’ll be a minor collision.
Report Post »trinklefinder
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:04pmPeople in Missouri already lose their license for a DUI, just the same as folks who get DWI’s. They have to take the same offender classes, they pay the same cost for the assessment and classes, they get bench probation. All the same. Also, I wouldn’t submit to a saliva test, they are completely inaccurate. When one of our clients in our outpatient program gave a saliva swab it showed she was positive for meth, when we gave her a urinalysis the next day she was negative for all 8 panels. All this is is a revenue generator. Here in MO a SATOP screening is a whopping $375, and the classes can cost up to $1500, big money as you can see. I’ve personally NEVER met a stoner who drives much more than five miles over the speed limit. And believe me when I say, I have known A LOT of stoners.
Report Post »A Hoosier Says
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:04pmA driver’s impairment level for marijuana or any substance are easy for officers to detect. Even if you have no marijuana or other drugs on you when you are pulled over, an officer can still give you a sobriety test. If you can’t walk a straight line, say your ABC’s, touch your nose, etc, then you get arrested. Heck, I know a woman who was pulled over while on prescription pain killers, and she was arrested for OWI even though she had no drugs in her car. This story is really a non issue being hyped up.
Report Post »drenfroe
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:50pmAccidents are up because we have more illegals driving from other countries where there are no road rules. Also because there is no longer drivers education and everyone in every family owns a vehicle. People get in their vehicles and drive however thye feel instead of by any kind of rule or any kind of patience, Accidents are up because everyone drives like idiots.
Report Post »drenfroe
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:46pmI remember a study back in late 70′s where they proved that people who smoked pot and drove actually were more careful while driving and had faster reaction while under the influence of pot than when they were straight. So I believe this is fabricated and based more on the idea of being on hard drugs and drunk than pot usage.
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:55pmDope is dope.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:45pmthe law that covers this and all other driving issues is the careless driving law
freaking enforce it and viola…………………….problem dealt with
you can not legislate away accidents and irresponsibility. you can only be aware of ******** on the road and do your best to avoid them …………and buy a vehicle that is made out of real metal, not those battery operated death traps and those tiny little cars
Report Post »justangry
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:42pmWhy focus soley on weed? I mean are they doing similar testing on cough syrup, muscle relaxers, opiates, tranquilizers, etc? You know the stuff the doctor gives people no questions asked. If you need meds, you shouldn’t to be driving. That being said, I believe someone hopped up on Ridilin (sp?) can be just as dangerous as someone smoking weed.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:53pmPeople who are Susceptible to black outs, seizures, fainting and diabetics are not permitted to drive if they are found driving their license can be revoked. If her MS is that bad she has to get high she shouldn’t be driving.
Report Post »M1A2_Tanker
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:30pmAnyone who thinks that these people were not smoking pot and driving before medical marijuana are just plain naive or dumb. I am much more worried about the drivers who think that talking on their cell phones is safe. I live in the Bible belt. I am a Christian. I hate nothing more than the soccer moms with 2 big fish and several little fish symbols on the back of their cars driving 15 or more over the speed limit yapping on the phone or even better the folks who put the black and blue stickers on their cars to identify that they are Law Enforcement Doing the same dangerous driving. I would think that the folks who drive while high are aware that it is more dangerous therefore paying more attention to not get busted, opposed to those who think that a cell phone is safe not paying any extra attention to the way they are driving.
“Oh no, the Paulbots are gonna swarm any second now….
waiting…”
LOL they are “Bots” yet you sit around waiting for the opportunity to call them names? You are starting to look like the “Bot” So much for supporting “Liberty” you know the real meaning of the word not just what “you” think it should be?
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:34pmYou make some good points. By the way, I love being a Paulbot. It sure is a hell of a lot better being called that than a Santorum or Romney bot.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:59pmNO your medical marijuana license is not a acceptable excuse or get out of jail free card.
Report Post »M1A2_Tanker
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:11pm2theADDLED,
Oh, Do you have one of those stickers on your car? Nobody made the case that a Medical Pot card should be an excuse. It shouldn’t and it wont. Nevertheless IT STILL HAPPENS….That was the point.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:21pmIf you use pot as a medication, in my opinion, you choose not to drive, as a matter of character to not take the chance of hurting someone. The same with any medication, you have to use the sense God gave you to put others safety above your own needs. To be responsible for injuring or killing an innocent party wouldn’t be worth not using some commen sense.
Report Post »M1A2_Tanker
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 9:08pmHas anyone given any thought to what will be required of the Tax Payer if these folks are dropped from being able to drive? If they take away people’s self reliance of transportation in the end Tax payer money WILL then be used to provide transportation for these folks. It will force them onto the Gov. dole on top of whatever else they receive S.S., V.A. etc. It is a double edged sword in the real world. Sure it would be nice if everyone was just responsible for themselves.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 10:16pm@ M1A2_Tanker
Report Post »Has anyone given any thought to what the Tax Payer would save if these folks are dropped from being able to drive?
M1A2_Tanker
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:22pm2theADDLED,
Wow did I piss in your Wheaties or something?. Because you missed the point completely. My last sentence was “Sure it would be nice if everyone was just responsible for themselves.” Do you get it. Fact is if we take their ability to drive they (leftists) will Demand that these people be taken care of. I would rather drive on the road with a guy smoking pot on his way to work to pay for himself and his family then to be stuck paying for all of them. Life isn’t perfect and if you pretend to live in a world where you get everything the way you want it nothing will ever get done. So I choose to pick the side of the Battle that I won’t be left paying for. It will be cheaper to let these people drive to work and pay car insurance than it will be to transport them around. We all know that the Gov. does everything at 3 or 4 times the cost. But to sit back and act like we wont be holding the bill for 1 side or the other is just plain delusional.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 6:13amNo you didn’t affect my wheaties my stance is drug test them all.
Report Post »ronwagn
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:20pmPolice need to be certified to draw blood on the spot. If they have trouble, they need to be able to get a nurse or phlebotomist ASAP. Many people drive under the influence of many different kinds of drugs, legal and illegal. Levels need to be set for all of them. If there is no set legal limit, there should be a zero tolerance policy.
Report Post »LOTO
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:11pmObviously you have not read The County Sheriff by Sheriff Richard Mack.
Report Post »http://sheriffmack.com/index.php/books-by-richard-mack
lukerw
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:20pmWith higher gas prices… and fewer drivers on the road… just set up impaired driving lanes and streets… alike bumper-cars…
Report Post »honor007
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:19pmI bet texting has nothing to do with the increase in fatalities.
Report Post »Insert sarcasm~
HorseCrazy
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:17pmI am not sure how I feel about this. hurt someone go to prison but I have chronic lifelong incurable disease that is about the worst thing wouldn’t wish it on my enemies and I take loads of prescription narcotic pills to function. if I didn‘t I wouldn’t be able to work or get out of bed. most folks with my same condition end up bed ridden. the drugs have saved my life…not the ability to breath but the ability to live my life go out and about parent work etc. and I have heard of friends and others where the pot has done the same job for them that my pills do for me. its illegal for me to drive while taking them. tell me how that is ok? I am not some child out stealing pain pills and getting high I am an adult with a huge tolerance since I have taken them since age 10 and I don’t think I should be thrown in jail if I get in an accident even if I test positive for my prescribed drugs which do not get me high because they just level out the pain. I feel like those using the pot for actual medical purposes are in the same boat not just saying oh my toe hurts give me some prescription pot…they shouldn’t be crucified over this either. real pain with drugs means you level out not get doped out.
Report Post »M1A2_Tanker
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:41pmAgreed.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 9:23amI totaley agree, we who need meds to have a productive life and want to be productive, tend to have enough common sense to know when to do something and when not. I have been known to call an adult kid of mine and say I am having a rough day so I need a ride as I shouldn’t be on the road. All my kids trust me to drive their kids, because they know I won’t if I feel even a bit “drugged” or incapacitated. I think good people who have common sense and use it know when to, and when not to. The ones who don’t figure that out fast should be off the roead
Report Post »geonj
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:17pmit wouldn‘t be an issue if medical marajuana prescribing wasn’t abused by people who pay off a doctor to get the card. they screw over the people who legitamately need it. hope you are all proud you waste of a human life stoners.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:10pmIt requires a certain level of skill to drive drunk and/or stoned. If you suck at driving sober, do not do it impaired. Between the women putting makeup on while driving, people reading while driving, and the ones that talk and drive, I am pretty sure there is a good chance you will get in an accident with one of those morons before you get in an accident with a stoner or drunk.
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:09pmEven though it may not be a good idea to mix pot and driving, a more profound problem is the failure to build enough lanes per vehicle or lanes per driver. The highway trust fund has been used as a grab bag of money for over twenty years for non-highway expenditures called enhancements. Soon there will be three train museums in my county, two of them with gas tax dollars. Another fraction, about 1/6th of the federal tax, has been used for transit spending and that could possibly be near the end, depending how the next transportation authorization is resolved. The environmental laws make it decades before improvements can be built. The result is that the average distance between vehicles is declining. This means that traffic and the avoidance of accidents is becoming more and more challenging for the unimpaired. Trucks are getting longer and heavier. Cars are getting lighter to conserve fuel. Congestion has gone from an urban phenomenon to a problem that has begun to visit non urban areas. The latest fiasco is a federal attempt to increase the driving age to 18 and bribing states to put the policy into effect. This will take a lot of cars off of the road and make the existing inventory stretch out a few more years but at a cost that differs from state to state. The timing is perfect since unemployment for youth is very high now. This is why the constitution is written for the states to resolve these matters, not the federal government.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:04pmWhat’s next waiver of personal esponsibility for tokers? Maybe some kind of bloodolizer on the steering wheel? Publicly subsidized “straighter” rooms? They could put them next to the illegal facilities at the Home Depots-maybe not.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 7:57pmOh no, the Paulbots are gonna swarm any second now….
waiting…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:03pmYou got that right .. since Michigan has legalized pot (you have to get a phoney prescription) it has gone downhill more than it was .. I am skipping going up to my cottage this year .. between all the druggies and the gas prices … I would rather stay home!
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:12pmI’ll bite social Con. Yes I support the legalization of drugs and prostitution. Is that okay with you? Who gives a rats ass what you think anyway. You are one of those that believes and probably supports the drug and prostitution wars.
Report Post »geonj
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:22pm@thxll38 – so i take it you are a stoner who screws for cash to buy pot? otherwise your support for marajuana and prostitution would have no validity.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 7:54pmI am all for legalizing all drugs. I am also for throwing anyone in prison for life who gives drugs to a kid or hurts someone by driving under the influence.
Personal responsibility needs to be back in vouge. If you cant handle it, you get locked up for a very long time. 3 hots and a cot…nothing else…Boo ya.
Oh…wake me up I am dreaming that I am still in afree Country…
Report Post »http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/16/executive-order-national-defense-resources-preparedness
HorseCrazy
Posted on March 18, 2012 at 8:22pmtotally agree
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on March 19, 2012 at 9:44amI agree but I’m for exiling or banishing lifers to waste land like say the sahara. Quit punishing the tax payers at a cost of millions per criminal.
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