More than half admit marijuana use within two hours of getting behind the wheel
In one of the most concerning developments to date, a published report by the state of Colorado found that in 2016, about 73% of some 4,000 drivers charged with driving under the influence tested positive for marijuana. The report, by the Division of Criminal Justice, also revealed that half of the drivers who tested positive were over the legal limit of THC in their blood. That’s the psychoactive compound found in pot. And 53 percent admit they smoked marijuana within two hours of getting behind the wheel.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and affiliate Marijuana Accountability Coalition (MAC) stand in firm opposition to the industry’s lies about marijuana’s effects and incessant promotion of their highly potent products. With 77% pot shops in Colorado already recommending pot to pregnant mothers, this is just one more reason why legalizing the recreational use of marijuana was a step in the wrong direction.
“I have read thousands of research reports over the last 25 years – and this one is one of the most alarming,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, founder and president of SAM. “To make matters worse, marijuana impairment is most likely underrepresented in data due to the fact that it is so hard to gauge. Other states considering legalization must pump the breaks and take note of such damning reports.”
Since legalization in Colorado, the marijuana industry has created a whole host of issues including the targeting of minorities and children, workforce problems, a thriving black market, and increased poison control center calls and emergency room visits.
“Each day, the marijuana industry in Colorado gives the rest of the nation one more lesson to learn from,” said Justin Luke Riley, founder of the MAC – a marijuana industry watchdog in Colorado. “The MAC will continue to work to shine a light where Big Marijuana doesn’t want it shown.”
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