SeilerBird
Well-known member
The ironic thing is that the legalization of marijuana has been saving many lives. Drunk driving deaths are down and opioid overdose deaths are way down in the states that have legalized marijuana.
While a few recent studies have indicated a slight decrease in traffic fatalities due to impairment caused by the "recreational" use of marijuana, even the authors of some of those studies question the results. The impact of marijuana on our country's opiod problem is interesting, but how many of those who became addicted in the first place is an important factor in preventing future addictions.SeilerBird said:The ironic thing is that the legalization of marijuana has been saving many lives. Drunk driving deaths are down and opioid overdose deaths are way down in the states that have legalized marijuana.
The same tired old Reefer Madness lies from the liquor industry, the medical profession and the law enforcement agencies and others that have a financial interest in keeping marijuana illegal that have been proven false many years ago. 29/50Kevin Means said:While a few recent studies have indicated a slight decrease in traffic fatalities due to impairment caused by the "recreational" use of marijuana, even the authors of some of those studies question the results. The impact of marijuana on our country's opiod problem is interesting, but how many of those who became addicted in the first place is an important factor in preventing future addictions.
Longer term studies of marijuana related problems, conducted by NHTSA, HIDTA and the CDC, which studied not only traffic accidents, but also longer term negative societal affects, like school attendance, graduation rates, hospital visits etc. all indicate an increase in marijuana related problems. Here's an article that talks about those longer term studies.
http://www.factcheck.org/2016/08/unpacking-pots-impact-in-colorado/
We all tend to watch TV news channels, and read news stories, that support our own personal beliefs on any given matter, but education and objectivity are crucial to understanding and solving serious problems. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that whenever mind-altering drugs are combined with driving, accident rates are going to increase.
As a former Narcotics Detective, one of my duties was to interview suspects who were arrested for being under the influence of controlled substances, like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine (11550 H&S.) By the way, in California, marijuana was not considered a "controlled substance." It was considered a "dangerous drug."
I asked all of them a lot of "canned" questions, and one interesting fact we learned was that 100% of them started out by experimenting with alcohol AND marijuana before moving on to stronger, more addictive drugs. Most of those using "hard drugs" were still using marijuana. That DOES NOT mean that everyone who uses marijuana is going to move on to harder drugs, but there's clearly a correlation between marijuana and harder drugs.
Quite frankly, I couldn't care less if an adult wanted to burn their brains out on drugs. It's their life. It's just a shame when it happens to kids and young adults, because their brains haven't developed enough for them to understand the dangers, and some of the damage is irreparable. Those of us who do understand the dangers often set a poor example for them.
Unfortunately, it's very clear that many marijuana users are going to drive while stoned, endangering the lives of our friends and families. Some users will show up in ER rooms with bad reactions to the drug, and my tax dollars may be used to pay for their treatment. Some will lose their jobs, because they're always showing up for work stoned, and once again, my tax dollars may be used to pay their unemployment benefits. Many in school won't graduate, and will go on to use more dangerous drugs, which can be devastating to their families and their own futures.
The biggest problem I have is the message sent to our kids and young adults when they're told that it's okay for adults to use yet another mind-altering drug. We know full well the damage caused by drunk drivers and smoking, yet it's somehow acceptable for adults to smoke dope "recreationally." Oh well. End of rant.
I tried to figure out a nexus to RVing, but I can't. Sorry
Kev
Paul & Ann said:You can see why someone who is drunk or under the influence of drugs gets into an accident, but what excuse to sober people have?
I was really hoping our last president would have done one of his Executive Orders and had Canibus/CBD decriminalized, then VA could give me the only antidepressant that works without me wanting to kill myself or someone else.catblaster said:Since I now use the CBD oil I no longer take any type of sleeping aid, no antidepressants, no nausea meds. my blood pressure has dropped to almost normal levels and I am much easier to get along with. No negative side effects except the cost and even that is cheaper than the 3 prescriptions that it has replaced. .....your mileage may vary...
Tom said:In case someone's wondering, these messages were split from another topic.
Paul & Ann said:You can see why someone who is drunk or under the influence of drugs gets into an accident, but what excuse to sober people have?
Paul & Ann said:My point was that when a driver who is impaired gets into and accident, the impairment is always the cause, with the implication that if the person had not been impaired, they wouldnt have gotten into an accident, but with 50% or more of the accidents being caused by people who are not impaired, blaming people who are over the limit on alcohol, or being high, may not actually be the cause of the accidents they are involved in.