Colorado launches campaign to stop stoned driving

[pcosmar]

"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all."
Malcolm Reynolds

 

[Schifference]

I think that liberty is a wonderful concept and each of us should be able to do as we please so long as we do not harm others or their property. I think some sort of a commitment to responsibility is important. I think the consequences associated with using any mind altering substance or any distraction for that matter needs to be scrutinized when there is an increased risk to cause harm. A totally shit faced individual sitting in their recliner is harming no one. A stoned person driving themselves on a bicycle poses a greater threat. Stoned person driving their auto yet a higher threat. What about stoned person driving a bus full of school kids?

 

[kcchiefs6465]

I think that liberty is a wonderful concept and each of us should be able to do as we please so long as we do not harm others or their property. I think some sort of a commitment to responsibility is important. I think the consequences associated with using any mind altering substance or any distraction for that matter needs to be scrutinized when there is an increased risk to cause harm. A totally shit faced individual sitting in their recliner is harming no one. A stoned person driving themselves on a bicycle poses a greater threat. Stoned person driving their auto yet a higher threat. What about stoned person driving a bus full of school kids?

A person smoking marijuana is no greater danger than anyone else on the road. If they were qualified to drive the bus in the first place, I'd have no problem with them driving "stoned" (that is, "high" on marijuana). That might sound "radical" to many people but I can assure you they've not met the people I have, nor do they have the real world experiences I do. At best, they'll quote fear mongering ticks and offhanded remarks about how marijuana impairs driving. At worst I'll be labeled insane (ha).

I'd only say that you would be surprised at who smokes marijuana. While I don't advocate smoking marijuana before operating dangerous machinery, countless people do so daily without incident. The one that has an incident, though the incident isn't usually even proven to be caused by marijuana, (that is, accidents happen), are pimped by the media and social planners as the means to justify their increasing power grabs. And the road to hell is paved (allegedly) with good intentions. You end up with per se DUI laws with absurdly low thresholds imprisoning people who have not smoked in days, for being intoxicated. It is utterly fascist and a free society ought to reject it. (even one paying lip service to being a free society)

 

[Schifference]

I too have extensive experience regarding drug use. I think it affects people differently. Some people do drugs and that is their normal baseline functioning status. Others take one or 2 tokes and get all fucked up. I know several heroin addicts. If you did not know they were using you would not be able to notice it. They use to be normal. So I agree with you that some people function fine while stoned or on whatever drug. I think tolerance has a lot to do with that. I would not want to drive immediately after a couple of hits of some good weed. An hour or 2 later no problem. I disagree with the bus driver being stoned. He/she is not hired to drive a bus of school kids high.

A person smoking marijuana is no greater danger than anyone else on the road. If they were qualified to drive the bus in the first place, I'd have no problem with them driving "stoned" (that is, "high" on marijuana). That might sound "radical" to many people but I can assure you they've not met the people I have, nor do they have the real world experiences I do. At best, they'll quote fear mongering ticks and offhanded remarks about how marijuana impairs driving. At worst I'll be labeled insane (ha).

I'd only say that you would be surprised at who smokes marijuana. While I don't advocate smoking marijuana before operating dangerous machinery, countless people do so daily without incident. The one that has an incident, though the incident isn't usually even proven to be caused by marijuana, (that is, accidents happen), are pimped by the media and social planners as the means to justify their increasing power grabs. And the road to hell is paved (allegedly) with good intentions. You end up with per se DUI laws with absurdly low thresholds imprisoning people who have not smoked in days, for being intoxicated. It is utterly fascist and a free society ought to reject it. (even one paying lip service to being a free society)

 

[LibertyEagle]

A person smoking marijuana is no greater danger than anyone else on the road.

My own personal experience says what you just said is BS. lol

 

[dannno]

I don't really have a problem with this. The amount spent is small vs. the amount they take in from legalization. I'm fine with legalization but I'd rather people do not drive high.

It doesn't matter what you think, low to moderately stoned drivers are as safe or more safe than sober drivers. If somebody eats an 8x hash brownie before they drive, well, that's probably not a good idea.. especially if it is hitting them as they are driving. But that is no excuse to target responsible and safe drivers for absolutely no reason.

 

[dannno]

My own personal experience says what you just said is BS. lol

So you got high and drove one time?

 

[fisharmor]

My own personal experience says what you just said is BS. lol

I agree, between fumbling with the lighter and the shotgun, the person smoking marijuana on the road is probably actually steering with his knees.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

My own personal experience says what you just said is BS. lol

Well my personal experience says that I've driven countless tens of thousands of miles without incident. I've rode with others countless thousands of (probably) miles without incident as well. In fact, virtually every person I knew at a point in my life, drove "high" daily. They weren't arrested or put in jail nor did they ever get in accidents. In fact I've seen some amazing vehicular feats. (i.e., things I could hardly, if ever, have done sober)

Truth be told, prescription medications, of which are legal to drive under (to a certain extent, that is, UNTIL THEY BREAK A LAW) are more troublesome. I've know people high off different pills, ditch bound or in accidents. And they were charged. Reckless driving is an offense.

The crux of the issue relies on what is the role of the government. Wearing sandals, sleepy drivers, the minimally distracted, those legally given varieties of pills.. I mean, sure it is a risk (much, much moreso than smoking marijuana and driving). Where is the line drawn? At seat belt checkpoints and forcible blood withdraws? I know you don't advocate this but let's be real, this busy body mentality of preventing every accident (car, or otherwise) has led to a bureaucracy hardly describable. It's absurd.

I understand some people may smoke and not be able to fully function. Generally speaking, as along with alcohol, they are the "weekend warriors", or worse, the holiday partyers.

Why should I be punished for them, absent committing any crime? Slippery slope is evident. Look at where we are now.

 

[fisharmor]

For the metric impaired, 9/10 of a gram (the point where they all started making mistakes, and coincidentally also the point where they all agreed they shouldn't be driving) is pretty much an entire nickel bag.

That's easily four times the amount of pot than three people would smoke in a sitting.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

I too have extensive experience regarding drug use. I think it affects people differently. Some people do drugs and that is their normal baseline functioning status. Others take one or 2 tokes and get all fucked up. I know several heroin addicts. If you did not know they were using you would not be able to notice it. They use to be normal. So I agree with you that some people function fine while stoned or on whatever drug. I think tolerance has a lot to do with that. I would not want to drive immediately after a couple of hits of some good weed. An hour or 2 later no problem. I disagree with the bus driver being stoned. He/she is not hired to drive a bus of school kids high.

Of course, optimally I don't think a bus driver should be high. I just do not doubt the occurrences of such a scenario are so minimal and absurd, that creating draconian statutes to ensnare all, as a means to combat that, is not foolish, at best. At worst it is a scheme to maintain a system of control, approved by moral busy bodies, who think everyone else's business is their own. It is a system of revenue collection and forced labor. It is a business.

And of course simply driving high is not a crime. Accepting that it is, is accepting a notion of crimes against the state. 'Slippery slope' would be mild considering what is evident, today.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Sorry guys, I'm not going to applaud the person who drives stoned any more than I would applaud someone who drove drunk. But, I do agree that the law should only be involved if the driving is erratic or if an accident occurs.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Sorry guys, I'm not going to applaud the person who drives stoned any more than I would applaud someone who drove drunk. But, I do agree that the law should only be involved if the driving is erratic or if an accident occurs.

That's good enough for me.

I agree with you, dangerous driving habits should be discouraged on an individual and family level.

 

[Schifference]

That's good enough for me.

I agree with you, dangerous driving habits should be discouraged on an individual and family level.

Me Too! I think we should own Our Liberty by Being Responsible!

 

[Giuliani was there on 911]

Everyone here seems to be extremely pro marijuana. Honestly I think a lot of you are just parroting things you've heard before. Contrary to what you guys think marijuana isn't harmless. It's effects aren't all positive with no negatives. Not everyone reacts to Marijuana the same way. Sure for some people marijuana makes them really focused and calm at the same time but for other people marijuana makes them tired, spaced out, and unable to focus. Those people would definitely be wreckless behind the wheel.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Everyone here seems to be extremely pro marijuana. Honestly I think a lot of you are just parroting things you've heard before. Contrary to what you guys think marijuana isn't harmless. It's effects aren't all positive with no negatives. Not everyone reacts to Marijuana the same way. Sure for some people marijuana makes them really focused and calm at the same time but for other people marijuana makes them tired, spaced out, and unable to focus. Those people would definitely be wreckless behind the wheel.

And for that, preemptive of any crime, they should be incarcerated.

So sayeth Giuliani, so sayeth the Law.

 

[Cabal]

Everyone here seems to be extremely pro marijuana. Honestly I think a lot of you are just parroting things you've heard before. Contrary to what you guys think marijuana isn't harmless. It's effects aren't all positive with no negatives. Not everyone reacts to Marijuana the same way. Sure for some people marijuana makes them really focused and calm at the same time but for other people marijuana makes them tired, spaced out, and unable to focus. Those people would definitely be wreckless behind the wheel.

For many, and perhaps even most, it isn't about being pro-cannabis or against cannabis, it's about being pro-liberty.

 

[tod evans]

Everyone here seems to be extremely pro marijuana. Honestly I think a lot of you are just parroting things you've heard before. Contrary to what you guys think marijuana isn't harmless. It's effects aren't all positive with no negatives. Not everyone reacts to Marijuana the same way. Sure for some people marijuana makes them really focused and calm at the same time but for other people marijuana makes them tired, spaced out, and unable to focus. Those people would definitely be wreckless behind the wheel.

I smoked weed for decades and base my opinions on personal experience.

What is it exactly that you base your rhetoric on?

 

[chudrockz]

They might even be going slower than the speed limit and possibly taking the wrong exit at times.

The difference between that and the drunk driver is that the stoned driver, upon learning that s/he done took the wrong exit, goes something like this: "Awwwwwwww............. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck............................ I, just,,, took,,,, the ............ wrong ........... exit." Then they laugh for awhile, and eventually find their way back to where they're going.

The drunk goes "SHITWRONGEXIT!!!!" Followed by zooooooooomzzzzoooom and run over six pedestrians and four road signs frantically getting OFF said wrong exit.

 

[chudrockz]

As an aside, I had a brief conversation with an elderly woman yesterday at lunch at my county GOP convention (I was a delegate, as always). She took note of this story, and was just agast at the "unforeseen consequences" of legalization. She honestly acted like she thought no one had ever driven stoned before in human history, till they legalized pot, and now EVERYONE was doing it.

I just let it go, very little to be gained attempting a correction there.