I’m voting yes.
Some law enforcement people think that if weed is legalized that there will be a substantial increase in people driving DUI
I disagree for the following reasons:
1. In most circumstances alcohol impairs driving a lot more than weed does.
I’ve DUI of weed and only been ticketed once while high. That was in May, 1979 for going 75 in a 55 on southbound I5
near Valencia, CA.
That part of the I5
is mostly straight and 4 lanes in each direction. The speed limit there was 55 only because of a fuel-“shortage” motivated push for less consumption, which led to a nationally-imposed maximum limit of 55.
Nowadays most cars going through that section are going 75 and the unofficial CHP speed-limit policy is “As long as they keep it under 80….”.
2. Since most people who are going to consume weed already do regardless of its illegality, any increase in weed-caused DUI’s will be at most negligible. If there is an increase in the number of weed consumers, it will be due mostly to n00b tokers who would eventually try it even it remained illegal.
Besides, if there aren’t already statutes against driving in any impaired state, then legalizing weed won’t really present an obstacle to enacting such statutes.
AFAIK, there are no provisions in Prop 19 that legalize smoking while driving.
According to NORML , “Marijuana Legalization Could Yield California $1.5—$2.5 Billion Per Year”.
Don’t let the putrid legacy of Harry Anslinger stand in the way of a groovier state. :-p