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Legalized Weed Issues ....

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by STexan, Dec 10, 2012.

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  1. Dec 10, 2012 #1
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    In this NBCNews Article "Bar Owner Lets Patrons Get Stoned" It brings up some interesting potential issues ...
    How many failed drug tests are going to now come from truckers in Colorado and Washington given their recent legalization of marijuana for recreational use? How many of these will be challenged as caused form "second hand exposure"? Will these states have DWI charges similar to alcohol BAC? Or can you get as stoned as you want and "be good to drive home", unlike if you had been drinking? DWI ... what constitutes "intoxicated"? ... or under the Influence of what?

    Can new allowances for marijuana usage be expected from certain transportation safety regulators in the future? For truckers? for truckers in recreational pot states only? Are carriers and safety departments going to make any adjustments? And there are other issues and possibilities I could mention.

    Just wanted to shake the bottle and see what happens.
     
    STexan, Dec 10, 2012
    STexan, Dec 10, 2012
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  3. Dec 10, 2012 #2
    Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

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    Personally, I don't see any changes coming up in the driving under the influence laws that are currently on the books. There is no reason for those laws to be changed. Why would there be?

    It is legal to have a few drinks, in most states, assuming you are of legal age to do so.

    It is NOT legal to drive while intoxicated though.

    So while it may be legal to smoke a joint some place, if you are "under the influence" it will still not be legal to drive.

    I think where the argument is going to be is whether someone is under the influence or not. So you take a hit off your friends doobie, are you under the influence?

    Interesting question.
     
    Big Don, Dec 10, 2012
    Big Don, Dec 10, 2012
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  4. Dec 10, 2012 #3
    D33RHUNT3R

    D33RHUNT3R Medium Load Member

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    Good luck using the second hand smoke idea... thats just plain funny... as for drving on pot.. it called a DUI... and my guess is it dont matter what state your from you fail a pee pee test you will be gone ..end of discussion...
     
    D33RHUNT3R, Dec 10, 2012
    D33RHUNT3R, Dec 10, 2012
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  5. Dec 10, 2012 #4
    oldslowchevy

    oldslowchevy Light Load Member

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    it is leagle in those states, we are as cdl holders are goverened under fed law, the feds say it is illeage andand that is all we (cdl holders) need to know.
     
    oldslowchevy, Dec 10, 2012
    oldslowchevy, Dec 10, 2012
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  7. Dec 10, 2012 #5
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Allright, forget the CDL holder aspect of it. We have testing processes for alcohol (as a percentage of blood), can we expect the same for THC for motor vehicle operators? And until such a test becomes mainstream, can a stoned driver be involved in a fatality accident and not have charges upgraded since he/she was under the influence of a "legal recreational substance" but it was indeterminate as to how much or if the individuals motor skills were impaired?
     
    STexan, Dec 10, 2012
    STexan, Dec 10, 2012
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  8. Dec 10, 2012 #6
    Guitar Man

    Guitar Man Medium Load Member

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    My guess is you'd be #######, irregardless of the amount in your system/level of impairity, or which state your CDL was issued. (and believe me when I tell you I smoked enough pot back in my younger days to support half of South America...LOL)
     
    Guitar Man, Dec 10, 2012
    Guitar Man, Dec 10, 2012
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  9. Dec 10, 2012 #7
    Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    The war on drugs is getting a little long in the tooth. We should just legalize everything .. If you want to blow your mind, and health in your own home go for it. As long as you don't drive or hurt anyone who cares. The Feds could tax it and take the money out of the shadows. Maybe cut down on crime, and people doing time on drug charges.

    Don't think we will see any changes in the dot drug tests for a while.The Feds are pretty dug in on the pot issue.

    But what do I know...........
     
    Cat sdp, Dec 10, 2012
    Cat sdp, Dec 10, 2012
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  10. Dec 10, 2012 #8
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    My larger point is, either recent pot consumption impairs driving, affects judgement and driving skills or it doesn't. Most "studies" indicate those affected with cannabis are more "careful" in an effort to not get stopped and there is no study that I'm aware of that puts THC effects in the same category as alcohol insofar as impairing driving ability. And if the states are going to determine post-accident testing for THC is not worth the time or effort why would the federal transportation continue to take such a zero-tolerance line on weed?

    I only bring this up because I've seen too much liberalization in the last 10 years to where I won't put anything past today's progressive law-makers to pull THC off of the problem substance list. As an employer, I'd make sure to avoid hiring a known frequent stoner and certainly don't want one in my truck with my name on it.
     
    STexan, Dec 10, 2012
    STexan, Dec 10, 2012
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  11. Dec 10, 2012 #9
    blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    Where I am waiting to see if it becomes a issue, you do not smoke, but you are around it, like the bar that is in this article, and you are tested. No, you did not smoke, but you tested positive, lets say hair folicle. How will you fight it. Most of us, can not, but does anyone remember the workers that were suspended for drinking and smoking during a lunch break at a GM plant, two where re-instated, and GM has a zero tolerance. I go to a party in Washington state and all of my friends are smoking, I am just around it. I guess that this means, forget the party and forget the friends. It is going to become a very tangled web.
     
    blsqueak, Dec 10, 2012
    blsqueak, Dec 10, 2012
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  12. Dec 10, 2012 #10
    joseph1135

    joseph1135 Papa Murphy

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    Pot is still illegal in the majority of states and it clearly states in the bible (the little fat green book) that we may NOT partake in such activity. Not that I have a moral opposition to marijuana, but your job is more important than getting stoned. The only ones I could see have "issues" are younger drivers and the real trashy ones. The rest of us know restraint.
     
    joseph1135, Dec 10, 2012
    joseph1135, Dec 10, 2012
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