Law Colorado

[Baron23]

This is breathtaking in its idiocy and will only benefit lawyers as this completely subjective standard will go around and around in the courts.


Bill introduced to allow Colorado cops to use own judgement in cannabis DUI arrests

In Colorado, legislators are considering a bill that would leave the criteria of cannabis DUI arrests entirely up to police officers, getting rid of the current legal bloodstream limit of five nanograms entirely. Proponents of the plan rightfully say that the amount of cannabis in the bloodstream needed to inhibit a driver varies from person to person. What could go wrong with letting cops be the judge of when someone is driving under the influence?

“This will negatively impact people of color and poor people,” Larissa Bolivar of the Cannabis Consumer Coalition told Westword.

State Representative Dylan Roberts introduced House Bill 1146, which would allow officers to make an arrest if there is “evidence to believe that a driver had consumed alcohol or drugs, that the driver was substantially incapable of safely operating a vehicle, and that the driver had any measurable amount of a drug in his or her blood or oral fluid.”

Under the proposed law, no blood or oral fluid test would be required, and the only criteria for arrest would be officers’ opinions of the driver’s capability at the time. The bill would mirror a ruling that was recently reached by a Massachusetts court, which upheld a cannabis DUI conviction that had been based solely on an officer’s perception of the defendant’s driving skills.

There is some reason to distrust police impartiality in the state. Last year, an Aurora police officer was recorded by his body camera making racist comments regarding Black bystanders at the scene of a police shooting. He was initially fired, but returned to the force 10 months later with a demotion.

Cannabis legalization has failed to correct racial profiling in Colorado marijuana arrests. The Drug Policy Alliance found that during the first two years after 2012’s Amendment 64 passed, arrests fell by 51 percent for white people, but by only 25 percent for Black people. In 2014, the arrest rate for Blacks was three times the arrest rate for whites.

But the fact no state has devised a fool-proof method of gauging whether drivers are impaired by cannabis is undeniable. Cannabis blood testing technology is so far unable to gauge when cannabis was ingested, or whether its presence in the body of a driver indicates impaired driving capabilities.

“The five nanogram number is scientifically dubious, and not on the same level [of accuracy] as a 0.08 alcohol limit for drivers,” Roberts told Westword. “Someone who’s a habitual user could be totally fine to drive at or above five nanograms, while someone who doesn’t use it a lot could be really impaired at three nanograms.”

But cannabis consumer watchdogs point out that many substances could cause a driver to perform in a way that alerts police, such as cold medication.

“The biggest issue I see so far in this bill is a defendant being able to provide affirmative defense to show he or she had not consumed drugs or alcohol between the time they were stopped and the blood or oral sample was taken,” Bolivar said.

 

[Baron23]

I suspect it was pulled before being found unconstitutional for its extraordinarily vague criteria that invests far too much power in the individual officer's prerogative. In our country, we still have the protection of the requirement for probably cause....which ain't "well, I thought he was fucked up"


Controversial marijuana and drug DUI bill pulled by sponsor

A bill that would have given Colorado law enforcement officers more leeway when charging drivers with marijuana and drug DUIs was withdrawn by the measure's own sponsor this week.

State Representative Dylan Roberts, a Democrat and deputy prosecutor in Eagle County, had introduced House Bill 1146, a proposal to allow police to arrest drivers "for the presumption that a driver is under the influence of marijuana," on January 29. Two weeks later, Roberts pulled the bill before its first committee vote.

"We've been having a lot of meetings on this bill. We had stakeholder meetings, and met with people from the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and medical marijuana patient community. I appreciated and really learned a lot from the conversation, and have taken their suggestion and feedback," Roberts says. "What we were trying to do with the law wasn't really workable with this bill, and it would've had unintended consequences that I wouldn't support as a legislator."

The bill proposed creating a new traffic offense, tandem DUI per se, which would have allowed police to arrest drivers if there was "evidence to believe that a driver had consumed alcohol or drugs, that the driver was substantially incapable of safely operating a vehicle, and that the driver had any measurable amount of a drug in his or her blood or oral fluid."

At the House Judiciary Committee meeting on February 12, Roberts pulled the bill.

Current procedures for detecting marijuana impairment are wonky at best; drivers can be charged with a DUI if they have more than 5 nanograms of THC in their systems. However, studies have shown that habitual users will test above 5 nanograms even when they're not impaired, while occasional users could be significantly impaired an hour or two after smoking, despite testing below the limit.

The bill would have replaced Colorado's nanogram limit with a more personalized measure for impairment, with drivers eligible for a DUI if any trace of marijuana or other drugs was detected in their systems after a police officer perceived them as impaired.

Although Roberts maintains that the measure would not have made it easier for police to find probable cause, advocates for marijuana consumers and MMJ patients had argued that the proposal could have created unintended consequences, such as unjust arrests of marijuana consumers and members of minority groups. Critics said that providing more power to law enforcement when the science is so unclear was not the right approach.

Marijuana advocacy groups such as Coloradans for Safe Access and Colorado NORML voiced their opposition to the bill during a public stakeholder meeting that Roberts held at the State Capitol. Soon after, Roberts pulled the bill, winning praise from Weber.

"Dylan Roberts took our concerns into consideration and expressed the same concerns for medical marijuana patients and those on everyday prescription drugs as well," Weber says. "It takes a good leader to admit when they're wrong, instead of moving forward with language that doesn't please anybody but their own egos. That was definitely something I haven't seen at the legislature."

While he didn't want the legislation to disproportionately impact anyone, Roberts says he will continue to encourage conversations about road safety. "The bill probably won't be revisited this year, but I think we need to continually be having conversations about making our roads safer," he says. "I'm really grateful when people provide feedback. I heard them, I hear them still, and I will work with anyone who wants to make our roads safer."

 

[Baron23]

Colorado Governor signs Bill approving medical cannabis for Autism treatment

Flanked by a kid wearing a “420 Autism” tee, on Tuesday Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into effect House Bill 1028, which legalizes medical marijuana treatment for autism. “OK kids, that’s how we make a law,” he told the families and advocates who had gathered for the occasion.

But in fact, the story of this bill was much more complex than Polis’ pen flourish. A similar bill passed both the House and Senate last year, but was rejected by then-Governor John Hickenlooper, who was not convinced that scientific data existed that backed up the legislation’s application to young people living with autism. “I haven’t found a pediatrician yet who thinks it’s a good idea to sign this bill,” Hickenlooper commented at the time, adding that certain autism groups’ silence on the bill “speaks volumes.”

A study ordered by Hickenlooper on the effects of cannabis on childhood autism has not yet reached a conclusion, though it has put together a working group of parents and health care professionals to advise its process.

Polis has been an opponent of Hickenlooper’s distrust for marijuana’s effect on autistic kids for some time, even running for the office on the platform that he would have signed the legislation into law.

The fact of the matter is that many Colorado families were already treating their children’s condition with medical marijuana. And despite Hickenlooper’s professed ignorance, studies do exist to reinforce their beliefs that the drug can reduce many of the health condition’s more severe symptoms. In Israel and Chile, research turned up positive effects in many clinical study participants, and the U.S. Department of Defense is set to begin a major study on the topic starting in June.

Many states have made allowances in existing medical marijuana regulation for patients with autism. In October, Rhode Island’s Department of Health okay’d the treatment, and last December in Iowa, the Board of Medicine has voted to add autism to the list of qualifying conditions for the medical cannabis program.

Though the governor’s approval was all but guaranteed in the matter, that doesn’t mean that HB 1028 did not face challenges in its lawmaking process. Arguments over how kids would access cannabis recommendations stalled the bill at the end of January, having already gone through two House readings. After negotiation, the legislation passed the House unanimously on February 7.

Central to the hold-up was the question of who was qualified to say that a child would benefit from medical marijuana treatment. Parents argued that many pediatricians were loathe to recommend the drug. Eventually an amendment was added to the bill that stipulates that a kid needs recommendations from two physicians — one to diagnose a condition and one to recommend medical marijuana.

The road to medical marijuana treatment for autistic individuals was a long one, but some Colorado advocates say the delay helped to improve the legislation. “This path happened for a reason,” Michelle Walker of Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana For Autism told Colorado publication Westword. “Because with 1028, we were able to ensure that individuals with autism and autistic people would have access, whereas the previous program created would have restricted access. Now, we’ve expanded access.”

 

[Baron23]

Bills Allowing Marijuana Deliveries And Tasting Rooms Head Toward Colorado Governor’s Desk

A bill that would allow marijuana deliveries in Colorado is heading to the governor’s desk following a final vote in the Senate on Wednesday. And separate legislation providing for cannabis “tasting rooms” could be soon to follow.

If signed into law, the two bills would represent some of the most significant expansions of the state’s legal cannabis program since voters approved legalization in 2012. The Senate votes on the House-passed legislation came just days before the end of the 2019 legislative session.

The cannabis home delivery bill passed the Senate in a 20 to 14 vote. Starting in January 2020, licensed medical cannabis shops could deliver marijuana to registered patients. Deliveries for recreational cannabis would be allowed starting in January 2021.

Deliveries would be limited to one time per day per customer and could only be transported to private residences. The legislation would impose a $1 per delivery tax that would go toward cities or counties where the delivery company is based, and that revenue would go toward local law enforcement.

The Senate approved the tasting room bill in a 23 to 12 vote. It authorizes “hospitality spaces in which marijuana may be consumed on site” and allows cannabis retailers to obtain a license for products to be sold and then consumed in a designated hospitality space.

It would also amend the Colorado Clean Air Act to make smoking marijuana in these spaces an exception under the law.

But there’s one step left before it heads to the governor: after passing the Senate on third reading, it must go back to the House for a final vote approving the Senate’s changes. That final action is expected within days.

When legislation to allow social consumption sites arrived on the desk of then-Gov. John Hickenlooper (D)—now a 2020 presidential candidate— last year, he vetoed it, arguing that it violated a constitutional statute prohibiting cannabis from being consumed “openly” or “publicly.”

Gov. Jared Polis (D), who pursued broad marijuana reforms as a congressman, is much friendlier to the cannabis industry, though, and advocates expect him to give the legislation his signature. He criticized his predecessor’s vetos on several cannabis bills in an earlier interview with Marijuana Moment, and he pledged to back those proposals if he was elected.

Lawmakers also gave final approval on Wednesday to legislation allowing the use of medical cannabis for any condition for which a physician can prescribe opioids.

 

[Baron23]

New Denver program can make old marijuana conviction disappear
“Turn Over a New Leaf” helps people convicted of low-level marijuana offenses wipe their records clean

After Dane Jordan was convicted of illegally growing marijuana 13 years ago, he gave up his dream of becoming a psychologist. After all, medical boards don’t readily hand out Ph.D.s to convicted felons.

He couldn’t rent certain apartments. He didn’t even bother applying to most jobs.

Jordan’s life was altered irrevocably by his decision to grow a few plants with no product on them. And years after his conviction, he continued to suffer the repercussions of a law that no longer existed.

“It basically destroyed my whole life,” Jordan said.

Kenzie Bruce, Special to the Denver Post
Dane Jordan waits to meet with Denver Chief Deputy DA Michael Song at the city’s Turn Over a New Leaf program on May 18, 2019.
But on Saturday, Jordan sat down at a folding table in the Denver Broncos Boys and Girls Club in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood and took the first step toward wiping the drug offense off his record. He became the latest participant in the city’s “Turn Over a New Leaf Program,” an effort to help those convicted of low-level marijuana offenses prior to legalization start fresh. Denver’s initiative, along with a similar program in Boulder, are the first of its kind in the state.

Since the program launched in February, 84 people have qualified to get their convictions completely erased. Saturday marked the program’s fifth and final in-person clinic — although people can still apply online and city officials said they can plan more clinics if there’s enough interest. The program has no end date.

RELATED: Jared Polis taps marijuana industry veteran to lead Colorado pot policy. It’s a notable change.
Jordan, 35, was so excited to clear his record officially that he flew in from Massachusetts to sign on the dotted line.

“For people like me, it’s an easy path to put it behind you, to move on,” he said. “You’re no longer a criminal in the eyes of the law. It’s huge.”

Jordan first heard about “Turn Over a New Leaf” while watching the news in February.

“If that becomes real,” Jordan thought, “I’m going to sign up.”

On Saturday, Jordan, with his brother and young niece watching from folding chairs across the gym, sat down with a Denver city attorney to finalize his paperwork. The entire process is free, thanks to contributions from the Marijuana Industry Group and others.

When the city announced the program three months ago, officials estimated 13,000 people would be eligible, although they expected a smaller number to participate. To date, 323 people have applied to the program, according to city data, but nearly two-thirds of the applicants have been ineligible, mostly because their convictions were outside of Denver, officials said.

Eric Escudero, spokesman for the city’s Department of Excise Licences and Office of Marijuana Policy, said that, compared with other cities with similar programs, Denver has performed well. He admitted, however, that it’s been a challenge reaching everybody who could benefit from the program. For some, maybe it hasn’t affected their lives. For others, there’s the trust factor with going back to the same government that slapped charges on them in the first place.

“If I lived in a perfect world, we’d have every person,” Escudero said. “But we’re determined to push forward and help as many people as we can.”

Last month, to reach more people, the city began an outreach effort in Denver jails. Of the 84 people who have qualified so far, 37 have been inmates, Escudero said.

Jordan wonders what his life might have looked like without his conviction. Maybe he’s a successful psychologist. Maybe not.

“This is who I am,” Jordan said. “And this is part of my life. But I don’t want it to be anymore.”

 

[Baron23]

Well, I see that the corporate take over of legal MJ is alive and well....sigh.


Colorado’s marijuana industry opened to outside investors
Some of the state’s largest cannabis companies lobbied lawmakers

Colorado’s prohibition on publicly traded cannabis companies, which dates back to legalization and was previously preserved by former Gov. John Hickenlooper, is now a relic of the past.

Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation Wednesday ending the ban, opening up Colorado’s cannabis industry to outside investors for the first time. A publicly traded Denver company says it can now acquire two cannabis companies in the state, earning it millions of dollars in annual revenue.

“There are arguments to be made from both sides of this,” said Kris Krane, co-founder of the cannabis firm 4Front, which does not operate in Colorado. “I think there are some positives that are going to come from opening this up to public companies and there are probably some negatives as well.”

The change in law is expected to bring new cannabis products to Colorado from companies that have previously stayed away from the state. It could also accelerate consolidation, with large national chains purchasing Colorado’s smaller cannabis shops faster than ever, Krane says.

“In the long term, you may see a downward impact on pricing, because you’re going to have companies that are now able to build operations of scale and efficiencies of scales they probably wouldn’t have been able to build without that kind of capital,” he added.

Some of the state’s largest cannabis companies lobbied lawmakers to support the bill. Beyond Broadway LLC, the company behind LivWell dispensaries, spent more than $20,000 on lobbying in the first three months of 2019, including on the investment bill. Medicine Man spent $18,000 on lobbying, The Green Solution paid $16,251 and Native Roots used $15,000, state records show.

After the bill passed, Medicine Man Technologies, a publicly traded cannabis firm in Denver, announced it can now acquire the companies MedPharm Holdings and Medicine Man Denver.

“This is a monumental time for us, and we believe the growth potential is both substantial and compelling,” said Andy Williams, CEO of Medicine Man Technologies, in a press release.

Publicly traded cannabis companies have operated in Colorado for some time, but are restricted in their ability to hold state marijuana licenses. The result is a convoluted trail of ownership. Williams, for example, already owns 38 percent of Medicine Man Denver and holds licenses for its shops.

MJardin, another cannabis consulting company in Denver, has been publicly traded in Canada since November. It manages Buddy Boy dispensaries here, along with cultivation facilities and grow operations, and its founder holds the state marijuana licenses for those companies. After the Boston Globe and Denver Post reported on MJardin’s public trading, the state opened an investigation into the company. MJardin says it’s complying with that investigation.

The bill Polis signed into law, House Bill 1090, passed the House by a vote of 54-11 and passed the Senate 27-7. All votes in opposition came from Republicans.

Black market marijuana dealers “can raise capital, too — they just raise it from organized crime,” said Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, at Wednesday’s bill signing. “And we would like to have people raising money from investors and from banks and from legitimate businesses, the way our voters have asked us to.”

Several city governments paid lobbyists to monitor the bill without taking a position, including Colorado Springs, Trinidad and Thornton. Commerce City opposed the bill, according to lobbying records, as did Colorado Christian University.

“The marijuana industry is quickly becoming Big Tobacco 2.0,” said Jeff Hunt, director of Centennial Institute, the university’s think tank. “By allowing publicly traded companies to invest in marijuana, Colorado is creating marijuana conglomerates with the sole purpose of getting as many people using the drug as possible. Similar to tobacco, we will experience public health problems for a generation due to ‘big marijuana.'”

To implement the new law, Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division will add an estimated 15 full-time employees, the agency said. That’s because the number and complexity of state cannabis applications are expected to increase.

 

[Baron23]

Well, its a done deal now.


Colorado governor signs bill allowing weed-tasting rooms and events


n a move sure to delight Colorado’s social smokers, state Governor Jared Polis signed a bill into law this week that has legalized social consumption of cannabis, albeit under certain conditions.

Licensed cannabis retail outlets will now be permitted to host cannabis tastings and operate tasting rooms, and venues including art galleries, music venues, and restaurants will also be allowed to apply to hold weed-tasting events. Consumers could purchase what they taste in retail outlets or bring their own herb “potluck”-style.

The measures will come into effect in January 2020.

However, the new law doesn’t guarantee that the option will be available to everyone in the state. Municipal governments will have to opt in to the rules allowing social consumption within the borders of their jurisdictions after allowing residents to vote on whether or not to permit the law to take effect locally.

While Denver had already legalized tasting rooms within city limits, the municipal legislation surrounding them is so restrictive that there are currently only two in operation.

Polis signed several other bills into law alongside social consumption, including one that will allow cannabis delivery services to operate in the state, one that allowed publicly-traded companies to and operate cannabis companies, and placing limits on current background check rules for cannabis investors.

“We can’t rest on our laurels,” Polis said of maintaining Colorado’s position as a leader in American cannabis production and legislation.

A similar social consumption bill was vetoed by then-Governor John Hickenlooper in 2018.

 

[momofthegoons]

The Worlds First Marijuana Mall Opened in Colorado



History is being made in Trinidad, Colorado, as the world’s first marijuana mall is scheduled to open this upcoming April.
Developers Chris Elkins and Sean Sheridan deemed Trinidad as the perfect location to build their dream project given Trinidad’s views on law and tourism.

In an interview with local news station KRDO, Elkins said, “This town has a zero-foot setback, which allows us to put five dispensaries here right next to one another. As far as we know, we are the only town in Colorado that can do this.”

Elkins and Sheridan have received city permits and have already purchased a building in downtown Trinidad on Commercial Street. Their next step is waiting for City Council to give their approval.

According to Elkins, four of the five spaces have already been leased to marijuana-based businesses, and if the City Council gives their approval, they are hoping to open their doors to the public in April.

Along with their passion for marijuana, Elkins and Sheridan are also incorporating their entrepreneurial skills into this project, and they are excited about the benefits the mini-mall will bring to the town.

Elkins expects the mini-mall to boost the local economy, and it seems as though many local residents agree.

Mechelle Duran, a Trinidad local who lives nearby the mini-mall location, said, “I’m excited to see it open. We have a lot of pot stores already and there is a lot of benefits.”

There are other locals who have expressed their concern with the mini-mall attracting homeless people and transients.

Tamara Johnson, a Trinidad local, said, “To be honest, I don’t have any problems with marijuana or marijuana users but I do know we have had a lot more problems with theft. I know Walmart is having problems. And transients, that’s becoming a huge problem.”

Regardless of the differing opinions of Trinidad locals, Elkins and Sheridan remain optimistic and anxiously await the grand opening of the world’s first marijuana mini-mall.

 

[Baron23]

The Worlds First Marijuana Mall Opened in Colorado



History is being made in Trinidad, Colorado, as the world’s first marijuana mall is scheduled to open this upcoming April.
Developers Chris Elkins and Sean Sheridan deemed Trinidad as the perfect location to build their dream project given Trinidad’s views on law and tourism.

In an interview with local news station KRDO, Elkins said, “This town has a zero-foot setback, which allows us to put five dispensaries here right next to one another. As far as we know, we are the only town in Colorado that can do this.”

Elkins and Sheridan have received city permits and have already purchased a building in downtown Trinidad on Commercial Street. Their next step is waiting for City Council to give their approval.

According to Elkins, four of the five spaces have already been leased to marijuana-based businesses, and if the City Council gives their approval, they are hoping to open their doors to the public in April.

Along with their passion for marijuana, Elkins and Sheridan are also incorporating their entrepreneurial skills into this project, and they are excited about the benefits the mini-mall will bring to the town.

Elkins expects the mini-mall to boost the local economy, and it seems as though many local residents agree.

Mechelle Duran, a Trinidad local who lives nearby the mini-mall location, said, “I’m excited to see it open. We have a lot of pot stores already and there is a lot of benefits.”

There are other locals who have expressed their concern with the mini-mall attracting homeless people and transients.

Tamara Johnson, a Trinidad local, said, “To be honest, I don’t have any problems with marijuana or marijuana users but I do know we have had a lot more problems with theft. I know Walmart is having problems. And transients, that’s becoming a huge problem.”

Regardless of the differing opinions of Trinidad locals, Elkins and Sheridan remain optimistic and anxiously await the grand opening of the world’s first marijuana mini-mall.

Well, I'm looking forward to that first Marijuana Outlet Mall....buy your close out Polo shirts and MJ all in one spot! haha

 

[Baron23]

By the by, I maintain my objection to the continuous and almost exclusive use of tattooed, ring encrusted, tie dyed, long haired, stoner hipsters in marketing and article pics. Like the one below of the guy blowing a big blunt with one behind his ear. This lady is also a MJ user....why not more pics like this? They are the fastest growing demographic in med use. Right?

Colorado looks to medical marijuana to ease opioid crisis
It becomes the third state in the nation after New York and Illinois to allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana instead of opioids for pain relief.

As the nation grapples with an opioid crisis that kills more than 130 people every day, Colorado thinks a solution may lie in a joint, a vape pen or a topical.

On Friday, it becomes the third state in the nation after New York and Illinois to allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana for any condition for which they would prescribe an opioid.


In two other states, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder may be advised to use medical marijuana instead of opioids.

In most states where medical marijuana is legal, it can be accessed for general pain relief. But now in Colorado, post-operative patients or those struggling with acute pain from an injury can potentially use medical marijuana instead of opioids.

“It was designed to give physicians a legal, open option to discuss [medical marijuana use] with patients,” said Colorado Rep. Edie Hooton, who co-sponsored the bill. “It normalizes the conversation around the issue.”

An attendee of the Denver 420 Rally in 2016. Colorado becomes the third state in the nation to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for pain instead of opioids. Proponents of the new law said the choice will help curb opioid dependence. Jason Connolly / AFP - Getty Images file
Research does not yet categorically support the idea that medical cannabis can replace opioids or reduce opioid dependence or overdose.

Last year, the Minnesota Department of Health released the results of its study of 2,245 patients taking medical marijuana for “intractable pain,” which is chronic. (The Colorado bill focuses on acute pain.) Of the 353 patients who self-reported that they were using opioids when they began consuming medical marijuana, 63 percent had reduced or eliminated their opioid use after six months.

But another 2018 study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found the opposite — that medical marijuana users “were significantly more likely to report medical use of prescription drugs in the past 12 months.”

“The science for this is really in its infancy, and policy is far outpacing what we know based on evidence,” said Ziva Cooper, research director at the University of California, Los Angeles, Cannabis Research Initiative. “We’re very far from coming up with a conclusive statement saying cannabis can be helpful as a substitute for opioids based on controlled studies.”

Much of the excitement surrounding the potential for cannabis to reduce opioid-related deaths originated with a 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, which found that between 1999 and 2010, states with medical cannabis laws saw close to a 25 percent reduction in opioid overdose deaths.

Those results were recently challenged when a new study expanded the original analysis through 2017 and found that states with medical cannabis laws had a nearly 23 percent increase in overdose deaths.

“Cannabinoids have demonstrated therapeutic benefits, but reducing population-level opioid overdose mortality does not appear to be among them,” the authors concluded.

One of the researchers went so far as to say, in a JAMA editorial published several months before the new study, “substituting cannabis for opioid addiction treatments is potentially harmful” and that the recommendation for substituting medical cannabis for opioids does not “meet the standards of rigor desirable for medical treatment decisions.”

Yet state lawmakers said there’s enough promising evidence to support opening up a dialogue between physicians and patients about options when it comes to acute pain.

“We want to give folks a legitimate alternative,” said Amanda Bent, former policy manager with the Colorado office of the Drug Policy Alliance, which supported Colorado’s legislation.

Hooton said the bipartisan bill was never “about treating opioid addiction.” Yet others openly promoted it as a way to curb opioid use and overdose fatalities, which lines up with its portrayal in other states.

 

[Baron23]

What have we learned after four years of legal cannabis sales in Colorado

• Since 2014, when Colorado became the nation’s first fully legal cannabis market, it has generated over $6 billion in legal cannabis sales.
• Adult-use sales grew 300% between 2014-2018, accounting for 2/3 of all cannabis purchased, and reflecting strong, sustained demand from adult consumers.
• Meantime, medical sales through 2014-2018 gradually declined, while bolstered by a strong medical framework (i.e., tax exemptions, higher quantity allowances for registered patients).
• Colorado’s results demonstrate the significant industry to be created through legalized cannabis, with economic benefits derived through effective regulations.
• As its extant cannabis consumer market nears saturation, new industry trends and innovations (e.g., therapeutic and wellness applications, delivery mechanisms, social-use venues, and a strong hemp sector, etc.) will keep driving lucrative opportunities in the Centennial State.

 

[momofthegoons]

Colorado Is Using $3 Million From Marijuana Tax To Provide Food And Housing For The Homeless

Legalizing marijuana is not a new issue by any means. And for the most part, it has been, and will continue to be, an uphill battle.

This is partly because it is currently classified as a Schedule 1 Illicit drug. This technically puts it on a par with other drugs like LSD, heroin or cocaine (1).

The FDA reserves this ranking for drugs that have the greatest potential for abuse and no substantiated medicinal value. However, proponents of marijuana say that based on these requirements, cannabis does not belong in this category and has been unfairly stigmatized.
With this legalization, however, miles of red tape and taxes became a part of the deal.

Various pro-cannabis groups have been tirelessly working for close to 50 years to bring cannabis out of the dark. They claim that marijuana is nothing less than a miracle drug, completely undeserving of the bad rap it’s received for decades.

While they have been making progress little by little, their efforts finally paid off in a big way in October 2014. At this time, Colorado state officials legalized marijuana for recreational use.

Colorado Marijuana Tax
People often think that simply legalizing marijuana (or any drug for that matter) is as simple as passing a law and the next day, it simply becomes legal.


But there is much more involved, and the process can actually take months if not years in some cases. For Colorado, for example, The Colorado Amendment 64, was passed by voters on November 6, 2012. It wasn’t’ until January 2014 that the recreational use of the drug became legal (2).

Not surprisingly, the state has received record levels of tax revenue since with the introduction of the Colorado Marijuana Tax.

According to the Department of Revenue (a state run office), records show that by the end of the 2015 fiscal year a whopping $996,184,788 worth of cannabis was sold in Colorado alone (3). This number only includes products sold between licensed and regulated marijuana sellers.

Those sales translated into more than $135 million in marijuana taxes and fees for 2015, up from $76 million since during its inception in 2014. The State further promised $35 million of this money would go to build new schools.

Colorado’s 2015 marijuana tax and sales totals also signify a “redemption” of sorts for every citizen who tirelessly fought to remove its illegal status. The success, represented by the influx of tax dollars, is proof to these groups that legalizing marijuana was a “no brainer” and in fact, should have been done years ago.

Other Effects
According to economic development statistics, the manufacture and sale of legalized marijuana has stimulated growth in many other areas, including new business ventures such as stores that sell cannabis, tools needed to manufacture it, and other industry related items. As expected, it’s translated into a pretty hefty tax boost for the state.

With this legalization, experts assert there has also been more cultural growth and acceptance throughout the state of Colorado. Municipalities have accepted the ruling and welcome the growth of new businesses and even the customers these businesses attract. Finally, legalization of cannabis has allowed people to utilize a regulated product safely, versus an illegal one that can be a gamble with respect to safety, purity and even sales.

A 2016 article in the Boston Globe writes, “Legalization has ushered in thousands of new jobs in the burgeoning industry, brought $135 million into state coffers last year, and ended the prohibition of a widely used substance.” (4). By all counts, it is a win-win scenario.

2016 Update
As of March 9, 2016, the state implemented several changes to the Colorado marijuana tax. It now makes up of a 2.9 percent retail and medical marijuana sales tax, and a 10 percent retail marijuana special sales tax. It also includes a 15 percent marijuana excise tax, plus any retail/medical marijuana application and license fees.

In total, the tax on legalized marijuana is just over 30 percent (30.43 percent to be exact). While this may seem hefty, and it is, it only works out to roughly 1.3 percent of the state’s $10.3 billion in general tax collections (5).

Like many state taxes collected, these monies can be dived up among various jurisdictions within that state. Afterward, local officials can determine where the money is best used. This year, Aurora, the third largest city in Colorado, claims the city will use over 33 percent of the $4.5 million it expects to bring in to support local not-for-profit homeless organizations (6).

Cannabis Gives Back


Cannabis has garnered a bad rap for years, but city council members in Aurora want to make sure the drug does some good.

So, over the next two years, they promised funds to be allocated to several non-profit groups:

• The Colfax Community Network, a non-profit group that supports families living in motels.
• The Comitis Crisis Center, which helps in-crisis individuals.
• Aurora Mental Health, which will receive new vans to be used for homeless outreach efforts.

The city also pledged $680,000 to be set aside for other vital city non-profit organizations and $2 million to be used to build a new recreation center (7).

Proponents of legalization are certainly happy. According to a November 2015 survey conducted by Quinnipiac University, 53 percent of Colorado voters believe legalizing marijuana has been good for the state (8).

While Marijuana may not be everyone’s cup of tea, legalization certainly has had quite a positive effect so far.

 

[Baron23]

‘Largest pot recall ever’ shows how legal cannabis rules can add safety


In what appears to be the nation’s biggest pot recall ever, Colorado company Bonsai Cultivation voluntarily moved to take its products off of shelves at 144 retail stores in Colorado. Denver’s Department of Public Health and Environment issued the announcement on Monday.

During a DDPHE investigation, samples of dried marijuana were checked at labs and found to contain potentially unsafe levels of yeast or mold. DDPHE originally opened the investigation leading to the recall after identifying multiple samples that had failed tests from multiple retail store locations.
The recall covers the material — bearing the OPC code 403R-00228 — that came out of three of Bonsai’s cultivation facilities and eleven manufacturers who came into contact with the product through Oct. 14.

The owner of one of the stores mentioned in the recall list told Cannabis Now they have sold Bonsai products in the past, but they didn’t have any product from them at the time of recall. Nevertheless, they found themselves listed because they carried the company’s prerolls in the spring.
“It’s because it was any store that had bought from them since April,” the store owner told Cannabis Now, on the condition of anonymity. “Between that and the outdoor harvest being seeded by hemp, it’s been an interesting Croptober.”

We asked the National Cannabis Industry Association if this was the biggest recall of legal cannabis yet in the post-prohibition era. While Media Director Morgan Fox couldn’t confirm it was the largest, he did say the Colorado recall perfectly exemplifies how cannabis legalization can help keep cannabis consumers safe.

“This is exactly what a regulatory structure is meant for,” Fox said. “Testers caught it, and the single producer responsible is working with regulators to make sure these products are removed from stores and that consumers are warned about it.”

Fox said as far he knew, no one has gotten sick from these products, “and hopefully no one will thanks to this effective implementation of regulatory oversight.” (This stands in obvious contrast with the ongoing vaping crisis, where 26 people have been killed and 1299 sickened from what appear to be unsafe vaporizers bought on the illicit market.)

Fox believes the industry is putting in a solid effort to avoid these kinds of days.

“This is hardly a common occurrence either,” Fox said. “Overall, state regulators and licensed cannabis businesses are doing a great job at keeping potentially dangerous products out of the legal market, though federal descheduling and regulation would help them get even better. None of this control or mechanisms to protect public health exist in the illicit market.”

To help put it in perspective, Fox noted there were nearly 400 food recalls in the U.S. last year.

“I’d say the cannabis industry is doing quite well by comparison,” Fox said, before mentioning that over 206 million eggs from a single supplier were recalled for salmonella in 2018, 12 million pounds of beef from another that same year, “all under what is generally considered to be the safest food regulatory system in the world.”
Bonsai Cultivation bills itself as a state-of-the-art wholesaler of high-end cannabis. According to the company’s website, the management team has over 25 years of experience in the industry.

In July, Bonsai’s Sales Director Brendan McCormick told Westword he believed that state was undervaluing the price per pound of cannabis after the first batch of outdoor, probably light-dep, started hitting the market. Unfortunately, the flowers he was speaking on at the time would have seemed to have been caught up in this week’s recall.
While a lot of Colorado recalls only impact a handful of stores, every now and then there is a big one.

Back in 2015, Denver-based edible manufacturer EpiPure saw 7,700 units of 17 different products recalled. Some of the products tested positive for one or more pesticides banned by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. You can’t legally use things like myclobutanil, avermectin and imidacloprid on marijuana in Colorado, and they definitely can’t be in your finished oil.

We reached out to Bonsai Cultivation for comment, but had not received a response at press time.

 

[Baron23]

Colorado announces marijuana rules taking effect Jan. 1


Medical marijuana delivered to your door. Recycling of marijuana product packaging. A “hospitality” license.

These are some of the changes going into effect in Colorado’s marijuana industry on Jan. 1, the state’s Department of Revenue announced on Tuesday.
The rules are the product of a handful of General Assembly bills, as well as working groups and public comments.

“We encouraged an even more collaborative approach to rule development where work group participants utilized their experience and expertise within stakeholder teams to engage more directly in the drafting of rule language,” said Jim Burack, director of the Marijuana Enforcement Division.

Among the changes are the creation of a permit allowing deliveries from medical marijuana stores to people’s residences. In 2021, there will also be a permit allowing recreational marijuana deliveries.

Marijuana establishments will also be able to collect containers, packages and cartridges for recycling. Industrial hemp, which is currently limited to sale in medical marijuana stores, will be allowed in recreational marijuana retailers as well.

There will be a new category of business license for “marijuana hospitality” establishments. These include venues that allow consumption of marijuana on their premises as well as businesses that sell and provide for consumption onsite.

The hospitality permits also can apply to mobile venues, which include any “self-propelled vehicle that is designed primarily for travel on the public highways and that is generally and commonly used to transport persons and property over the public highways or a low-speed electric vehicle.” Electric bicycles, scooters and wheelchairs are ineligible.

 

[momofthegoons]

County Officials In Colorado Launch ‘Marijuana Is Not Harmless’ Campaign

The campaign is meant to educate the public on the risks that may come with marijuana.

A Colorado county has launched a public service campaign to warn residents that there may be risks associated with using cannabis. The campaign, dubbed “Marijuana is Not Harmless,” was kicked off by the Weld County Health and Environment Department on Thursday.

Eric Aakko, a spokesman for the department, said that local officials want the public to realize that the legalization of marijuana does not imply that that cannabis use is risk-free. Colorado legalized the recreational use of cannabis for adults in 2014.

“We decided we need to do something to create some awareness that it’s not harmless,” Aakko told local media. “We’re not hearing a lot of the downside of marijuana, it’s not a really strong message that’s out there.”

Aakko said that department officials are especially concerned about people driving while high.


“We’re looking at a report that says every three days a Coloradan dies in a marijuana-related traffic crash,” he said. “That’s the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area report. We know traffic crashes are a problem in Weld County, where we’ve got 4,000 square miles and thousands and thousands of miles of roads. We wanted to get the message out there because if you are using marijuana, the worst thing that you can do is drive.”

Billboards and Online Ads
The “Marijuana Is Not Harmless” campaign includes billboards along county roads and online advertisements. The cost of the public awareness campaign is completely funded by grants, Aakko said.

County health officials have been compiling data to help them determine the health effects of several factors, including cannabis use.


“We do look every three years at a community health assessment — this year we mailed it to over 10,000 random residents — a scientifically valid survey we do every three years,” Aakko said. “In the past, we’ve noticed that people’s quality of life has been fairly good, but at the same time, we’re curious as to how that’s impacted when we get the data crunched from the 2019 survey. We do ask a few questions about marijuana use, and we don’t have the data yet, but we’re being proactive as well because we know from other studies.”

Those other studies, Aakko said, include a report from the National Institutes of Health’s National Drug Abuse Institute that was revised in December. The report warns that heavy cannabis users have decreased life satisfaction, poorer physical health, and more mental health problems.

“We can’t track definitively that it’s tied to marijuana per se, but we do track a number of those indicators, and once we get our data for 2019, we’ll look at trends over the last three years,” Aaakko said.


Jeri Shephard, a member of the board of directors for Colorado NORML, said that the county’s concern is ill-founded.

“There are some in the county commissioners’ office who tend to gravitate to ‘Reefer Madness’ analysis instead of understanding what the benefits that cannabis and hemp do have, even if you don’t use it yourself,” Shepherd said. “The Longmont City Council, for example, they had some concerns, but they’ve listened to people. And the (Weld) County commissioners are not known for listening to people.”

 

[Baron23]

County Officials In Colorado Launch ‘Marijuana Is Not Harmless’ Campaign

The campaign is meant to educate the public on the risks that may come with marijuana.

A Colorado county has launched a public service campaign to warn residents that there may be risks associated with using cannabis. The campaign, dubbed “Marijuana is Not Harmless,” was kicked off by the Weld County Health and Environment Department on Thursday.

Eric Aakko, a spokesman for the department, said that local officials want the public to realize that the legalization of marijuana does not imply that that cannabis use is risk-free. Colorado legalized the recreational use of cannabis for adults in 2014.

“We decided we need to do something to create some awareness that it’s not harmless,” Aakko told local media. “We’re not hearing a lot of the downside of marijuana, it’s not a really strong message that’s out there.”

Aakko said that department officials are especially concerned about people driving while high.


“We’re looking at a report that says every three days a Coloradan dies in a marijuana-related traffic crash,” he said. “That’s the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area report. We know traffic crashes are a problem in Weld County, where we’ve got 4,000 square miles and thousands and thousands of miles of roads. We wanted to get the message out there because if you are using marijuana, the worst thing that you can do is drive.”

Billboards and Online Ads
The “Marijuana Is Not Harmless” campaign includes billboards along county roads and online advertisements. The cost of the public awareness campaign is completely funded by grants, Aakko said.

County health officials have been compiling data to help them determine the health effects of several factors, including cannabis use.


“We do look every three years at a community health assessment — this year we mailed it to over 10,000 random residents — a scientifically valid survey we do every three years,” Aakko said. “In the past, we’ve noticed that people’s quality of life has been fairly good, but at the same time, we’re curious as to how that’s impacted when we get the data crunched from the 2019 survey. We do ask a few questions about marijuana use, and we don’t have the data yet, but we’re being proactive as well because we know from other studies.”

Those other studies, Aakko said, include a report from the National Institutes of Health’s National Drug Abuse Institute that was revised in December. The report warns that heavy cannabis users have decreased life satisfaction, poorer physical health, and more mental health problems.

“We can’t track definitively that it’s tied to marijuana per se, but we do track a number of those indicators, and once we get our data for 2019, we’ll look at trends over the last three years,” Aaakko said.


Jeri Shephard, a member of the board of directors for Colorado NORML, said that the county’s concern is ill-founded.

“There are some in the county commissioners’ office who tend to gravitate to ‘Reefer Madness’ analysis instead of understanding what the benefits that cannabis and hemp do have, even if you don’t use it yourself,” Shepherd said. “The Longmont City Council, for example, they had some concerns, but they’ve listened to people. And the (Weld) County commissioners are not known for listening to people.”

MJ is an intoxicant. Very, very helpful to many of us. But, quite frankly there is nothing for free, everything seems to have a price, including MJ.

For example, I started MJ when I was 15 which was pretty risque for 1967. Looking back I wish I had not gone that route and would have rather done more athletics and extracurricular activies in school....all of which I held in distain cause I was a "head" sigh

Now, I'm not reefer madness advocate nor do I think that the possible risks and negative impacts from MJ justify its illegality. FFS, a 7-11 Big Bite hotdog comes with negative health risks.

But I have never been comfortable with the approach I see from time to time on boards.....that no matter the situation "throw MJ at it, you will be fine".

Its not a panacea in my mind, it is helpful to many, it is legitimately recreational to many, but ain't like just eating a bowl of broccoli. haha

Cheers and thanks...I see that they are putting up these billboards before they even have any data to support them. Now, that I don't think is right. If you want educate the public on health issues, have some unassailable facts. If not, then STFU until you do. Again, just my view.

 

[Baron23]

Now that's a lot of herb.


Colorado sold a record $1.75 billion of cannabis last year

This time last year, it appeared that Colorado's industry was plateauing. Now it's surging.

Colorado cannabis shops notched sales of nearly $1.75 billion during 2019, setting a new annual sales record for the state home to the nation's longest-established recreational cannabis industry, according to Colorado Department of Revenue data first reported by the Denver Westword.

The new high water mark for sales netted more than $302.4 million in tax revenue for the state's coffers, where that money is divvied up into various buckets to fund programs such as school construction, law enforcement, public health, drug education and public safety.

The 2019 figures showcase a surprising surge in growth from a market that a year ago appeared to be flattening out. Colorado's cannabis sales increased 13% from 2018, bouncing back from a 2.5% year-over-year growth rate from 2017 to 2018.

Those slow growth rates were largely driven by price drops on flower, or cannabis bud, Tom Adams, managing director at cannabis market research firm BDS Analytics, told CNN Business.

"To see it turn around in 2019 is a bullish indicator that price compression can't keep the popularity of legal cannabis down," he said.

Adams attributed the rebound in Colorado's sales growth to two key factors: the increasing prevalence of non-flower products and changes in consumer behavior.
The profusion of edibles, beverages, vapes and concentrates resulted in a smaller market share for the familiar flower. Separately, people are growing comfortable with buying cannabis products and integrating those purchases into their shopping patterns, he said, noting recent BDS studies that showed increases in the number of adults who reported consuming cannabis in the prior six month period.

"It's just become a part of people's lives more and more," he said.

 

[Baron23]

"There is no smoking allowed but users can, “dab, use vape pens, and consume edibles.”"

No mention of dry flower vaping...its like it doesn't exist to the media.

Cannabis lounges not 'very profitable,' says Colorado lounge owner

Cannabis cafes have been a bit of a disappointment in one of the cities which spearheaded the movement to legalize weed.
“We’re very happy to have them, they just aren’t profitable,” said Rita Tsalyuk, owner of The CoffeeJointCo, a cannabis cafe in Denver, Colo.

The cafes in that city currently operate on a bring-your-own weed model — they are not permitted to sell any cannabis products.
There is no smoking allowed but users can, “dab, use vape pens, and consume edibles.”

The experience in Colorado should raise concerns in Ontario where provincial officials are now conducting an online consultation designed to come up with rules for cannabis cafes and lounges.

Colorado implemented legislation allowing hospitality spaces where cannabis users can consume edibles and other non-smoking products, but the cafes have been a disappointment because of how they’re regulated, said Tsalyuk.

She explained customer demand was very high initially, but quickly faded.

She said anyone can get a licence to open a lounge but that the current business model only works if a cafe opens next to a dispensary. “It doesn’t work as a standalone,” she said.

Legislators are currently looking at tabling a bill that would permit “retail marijuana, retail marijuana concentrate, and retail marijuana products (to be) sold and consumed on site in the establishment’s hospitality space.”

“It’s going to take a year,” Tsalyuk said of the legislation changes. “How it’s going to be next year, nobody knows.”

 

[Baron23]

Can marijuana dispensaries stay open during Colorado’s coronavirus crisis? It depends.

While dispensaries are exempt from cutting 50% of their staff like other “non-critical” businesses, many are changing operating procedures
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis deemed marijuana dispensaries “critical” retail businesses in an executive order Sunday urging employers to reduce their in-person workforces, meaning they would stay open if other industries were forced to shutter to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
The governor’s order, however, will change how dispensaries do business. In-person sales are limited to medical patients only; recreational customers must order in advance for curbside pickup. The order is in effect from 8 p.m. on Tuesday until April 11, unless extended by the governor.
Some counties classified dispensaries among essential services allowed to remain open during the pandemic independent of the governor’s order. For example, in San Miguel County, which mandated residents shelter in place on March 18, dispensaries are open to fill pickup orders only.
In Summit County, brick and mortar marijuana stores were allowed to remain open per city ordinance until the governor imposed stricter guidelines. If there’s conflict between state and local rules, the more restrictive ones are enforced, said public information officer Julie Sutor.
On Monday, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock issued “stay at home” order that initially classified medical dispensaries as essential businesses, but not recreational, essentially ending adult-use sales until April 11. But Denver walked back that decision by late afternoon, however, exempting pot shops that implement “extreme social distancing by limiting how many customers can be inside at one time.”
Advocates such as Cindy Sovine worry moratoriums like this could restrict some residents from obtaining their medicine. Sovine, a Denver-based lobbyist and consultant, said since adult-use became legal in 2012, many patients allowed their medical cards to lapse because most products are widely available on the recreational level.
“Cities like Aurora don’t even have medical,” Sovine said, adding restrictions could lead to an increase in illicit market activity that could be difficult to combat once circumstances settle down.
Not only that, but marijuana businesses do not currently qualify for federal stimulus relief and Denver’s order may put dispensaries out of business, Sovine said.
While dispensaries are exempt from cutting 50% of their staff like other “non-critical” businesses following the governor’s order, many are changing operating procedures to limit the potential for person-to-person spread of respiratory illness COVID-19.
Seed and Smith in Commerce City plans to reduce the number of hours employees working in its cultivation, manufacturing and packaging facility to avoid having too many people in the same room at the same time, said Mike Lempert, director of logistics. Starting this week, the dispensary is closing its storefront and requiring all sales to be made online or by phone for pickup. Seed and Smith plans to launch text message ordering in the coming weeks, too.
“Everything is meant to limit everyone’s exposure to another human,” Lempert said of those moves.
Online ordering has already proven a popular option for cannabis consumers looking to limit their interaction at retail stores, and industry personnel think the trend could reshape buying habits long-term.
Still, some don’t think it’s enough. Truman Bradley, president of the Marijuana Industry Group, would like to see the state allow marijuana delivery to prevent in-person gatherings and protect patients who might have compromised immune systems. Colorado legalized medical marijuana delivery in 2019, but it has yet to be adopted by many municipalities. Boulder, where the first delivery license was issued to The Dandelion dispensary, is a notable exception.
“We’ve already got the legal infrastructure that allows for this, so all it requires are these local municipalities to allow for delivery during times of crisis and they can come back and revisit it,” Sovine said. “That is the safest pathway to keep access open.”

 

[Baron23]

Colorado Marijuana Users Think Stoned Driving Policies Are Out Of Touch


According to a new study, Colorado users question the dangers of driving while high and desire more research about legal limit and self-assessment guidelines.
Cannabis consumers labeled Colorado policies about driving while under the influence of marijuana “out of touch,” although not in a way you might expect. A two-year study from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) found Colorado marijuana users considered driving while high was, more often than not, not that dangerous.



They were also skeptical about many laws and regulations involving cannabis use and getting behind the wheel. Many heavy users relied on a “gut check” to determine whether they could drive safely or not after using.
“The more often people consumed cannabis, the less dangerous they considered driving under the influence of cannabis to be,” the study’s authors wrote. “Respondents who use cannabis typically believed individual differences in consumption or tolerance were mitigating factors in someone’s ability to safely drive under the influence.
“Most users are critical of laws, policies, and enforcement surrounding driving under the influence of cannabis,” researchers continued. “Cannabis supporters saw government policies as out-of-touch.”
Educators and law enforcement teach drivers your body requires one hour to process each drink you’ve had. Online charts also calculate what your blood alcohol level may be based on gender, weight, and how much you drank. But no such data or guidelines exist for marijuana use, complained study participants. They wanted more meaningful research about detection methods, proper self-assessment guidelines, and how long to wait until driving.

CDOT surveyed more than 18,000 Coloradans for the research through a combination of online forms, in-person meetings, and focus groups. They found many marijuana users were sensitive to negative, “stoner” stereotypes or scare tactics traditionally used in public service announcements and education campaigns. Researchers concluded the most effective strategy was to first appeal to consumers’ feelings, then follow up with facts.
“When you’re talking about marijuana and cross over into that ‘and then he died’ phase … you cross over into that area where you’re getting unbelievable and those of us who partake are going, ‘Oh my gosh, again?’” one woman told researchers. “When you aren’t realistic, it gets really frustrating and nobody listens.”
A previous survey found drivers think texting is more dangerous than driving while high. AAA released a study last year that found nearly 15 million Americans got behind the wheel of a car an hour after smoking marijuana within the past 30 days. A 2017 report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association concluded the effects of marijuana on driving “are complex, not understood well, and vary from driver to driver.”