Posted on 08/28/2017 6:09:36 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Federal and state data show that the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Colorado who tested positive for marijuana has more than doubled since 2013. A Denver Post analysis of the data and coroner reports provides the most comprehensive look yet into whether roads in the state have become more dangerous since the drug's legalization.
It shows that Increasingly potent levels of marijuana were found in positive-testing drivers who died in crashes in Front Range counties.
The trends coincide with the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado.
However, Colorado transportation and public safety officials say the rising number of pot-related traffic fatalities cannot be definitively linked to legalized marijuana.
The industry counters that the data is imprecise and does not definitively link fatal crashes to marijuana use.
(Excerpt) Read more at kktv.com ...
Except that there is an increasing incidence of it being found in the blood of the dead drivers, according to the article. As with everything related to pot, there is a whole lot of denial going on.
D’oh!
What’s needed is a class action wrongful death lawsuit against officials and voters of Colorado for legalizing marijuana.
Yeah like this wasn’t predictable.
Sometimes common sense aint so common
Wow! Thank you Captain Obvious!
Why is it that everything we conservative folks say about stuff like this ALWAYS comes true? But our “betters” always dismiss us and find an “alternative” reason when SHTF.
This is common sense, people. Common sense....
The article is short on facts.
Do you trust the media?
Yep, many more slow and inattentive drivers here now.
Whatever you do or say never jeopardize the hundreds of millions of pot taxes going into State coffers.
Agreed.
Failure to think through the consequences of an action. Duh. Deaden the brain, drive, cause accidents.
The real question is has overall traffic fatality rates changed? (ie has alcohol gone down and pot gone up)
But then, this thread will revive the legalization of marijuana debate. Lots of people here at Free Republic are very libertarian on the issue. There have been so many threads here in which people cite the 10th amendment or libertarian ideals. So it’s like we’re not allowed to talk about negatives of marijuana, because the 10th amendment or libertarian political philosophy takes priority over any bad news reports such as this.
Just saying, based on past history here, this thread could easily get 200 replies, with back and forth about marijuana legalization.
"More than doubled" could be 20,000 to 45,000.
Or it could be 1 to 3.
Disclaimer: The last time I touched pot was in 1977.
I’m wondering in how many cases the pot was the cause of the accident. Same thing is true with traffic accidents and deaths involving a driver that had alcohol in their blood.
I think when the number of deaths caused by drivers impaired by dope starts approaching the number caused by drivers impaired by alcohol, we may want to take another look at making the penalty for stoned driving as severe as that for drunk driving. Or do we already?
What’s needed is a class action wrongful death lawsuit against officials and voters of Colorado for legalizing marijuana.
Amazing the Fascism the supposed ‘”conservative”-moniker-du-jour’ put up with, and *promote*, when its on THEIR boogey-man list.
If driving had been as prolific as it is today, the same would be crying about the 21st Amendment and still SEMI-bitching about the 18th (’cuz it’s what THEY support).
No matter the common sense, like a 21st b-day, some are going to binge, now that it’s off the ‘taboo’ list vs. the petering out as ‘common’, if it’s around/available all the time. How long might that take? I have no idea, but History may give us some clue.
(not to you specifically) “But, but, PEER pressure..” or “I know someone whom knows someone”...Keep your damn NIMBY\Nanny State nose out of other people’s lives; doesn’t mean you don’t punish where the law/Rights are VIOLATED. F* hypocrites of the highest order.
“Federal and state data show that the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Colorado who tested positive for marijuana has more than doubled since 2013.”
False flag. I can use cannabis on Monday, stay sober the rest of the week & be in a car accident on the way to Mass on following Sunday morning. When they test my blood they will find evidence of cannabis in my system. The cannabis I used on Monday has zero impact on my accident the following Sunday. Yet, it will get labeled as “drug related accident”.
As a medical marijuana patient here in Florida I will never operate a motor vehicle while medicated. Those who do drive high are selfish imbeciles that are no better than any drunk driver, IMO.
I wonder how many of those that had pot in their system also had alcohol in their system.
I thought of that before I posted. But I’m too old to care about the flak, and I’ve seen too many people ruin their lives with that nasty drug. Years ago, the head of student medical services at Cal Berkeley wrote an article about the effects he was documenting in his students. (About 1964 or ‘65). One of the most noticeable changes was to the logic areas of the brain. If you’ve ever personally know a long time, heavy pot user, they will tell you how smart they are, how productive they are, how cool headed they are, etc., etc. Everyone around them observes something far different, however. It’s that ancient river in Egypt again — de-nile!
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