{"id":74363,"date":"2024-04-18T04:34:19","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T12:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2024\/04\/18\/colorado-official-clears-the-air-on-cannabis-consumption-and-driving-ahead-of-4-20-festivities-op-ed\/"},"modified":"2024-04-18T12:46:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T20:46:12","slug":"colorado-official-clears-the-air-on-cannabis-consumption-and-driving-ahead-of-4-20-festivities-op-ed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2024\/04\/18\/colorado-official-clears-the-air-on-cannabis-consumption-and-driving-ahead-of-4-20-festivities-op-ed\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Official Clears The Air On Cannabis Consumption And Driving Ahead Of 4\/20 Festivities (Op-Ed)"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWhile cannabis has arguably gained mainstream acceptance, driving high has not, thankfully.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>By Glenn Davis, Colorado Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As the wave of legalization continues to roll across the U.S., more people are embracing cannabis. And while cannabis has arguably gained mainstream acceptance, driving high has not, thankfully. In a 2022 Colorado survey, 85 percent of cannabis consumers said they do not drive after partaking. However, the state did see 101 fatalities in 2022 involving a vehicle operator with Delta-9 THC above the legal limit at the time of the crash, which illustrates the seriousness of the issue.<\/p>\n<p>The Colorado Department of Transportation has been at the forefront of this conversation since Colorado became the first state in the U.S. to legalize recreational cannabis a decade ago. So, as you prepare to partake in 4\/20 celebrations, let\u2019s clear the air on a few common questions and misconceptions surrounding driving and cannabis use to keep everyone safe and DUI-free.<\/p>\n<h3>How long should you wait to drive after getting high?<\/h3>\n<p>Everyone is different, but here are some general guidelines to help you decide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wait at least six hours after smoking cannabis containing less than 35 milligrams of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) before driving or performing other safety-sensitive activities. If you\u2019ve smoked more than 35 mg, you need to wait longer.\n<ul>\n<li>In Colorado, the typical cannabis cigarette product or joint contains approximately 0.5 grams of cannabis, which means consuming about 60 mg to 115 mg of THC. The standard serving size for a cannabis edible is 5 mg to 10 mg. However, consuming similar amounts of THC in edibles will typically have stronger effects than if smoked.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Wait at least eight hours after eating or drinking cannabis products containing less than 18 mg of THC before driving. If you\u2019ve eaten more than 18 mg, wait longer.<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re mixing cannabis with alcohol, you need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codot.gov\/safety\/impaired-driving\/druggeddriving\/campaign-news\/what-happens-when-you-mix-cannabis-and-alcohol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wait<\/a> even longer than that.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Mixing cannabis and alcohol<\/h3>\n<p>Speaking of mixing cannabis and alcohol, combining them enhances the impairing effects of both. It\u2019s a combination that has created some serious problems on Colorado roadways. Why? Research shows that users are more likely to drive or take other risks after using both substances than after consuming cannabis alone. Considering impairment-related fatalities are on the rise nationwide, this is a huge area of focus. Nationwide, over 30 percent of traffic deaths involve an impaired driver (NHTSA). And these deaths are all preventable.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cOur advice? Just stay off the road if you\u2019ve had any amount of THC or other impairing cannabinoids.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider this: The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) published a <a href=\"https:\/\/cdpsdocs.state.co.us\/ors\/docs\/reports\/2022-DUI_HB17-1315.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> in July 2023 that analyzed 2020 data from more than 21,000 impaired driving cases filed in Colorado. Researchers followed the cases from arrest to final court outcome. The report found that 75 percent of people with detected delta-9 THC in their system also had some other impairing substance present. Alcohol was the most common one. You can\u2019t deny that\u2019s pretty alarming.<\/p>\n<h3>What\u2019s the legal driving limit for THC?<\/h3>\n<p>Technically, the <a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.colorado.gov\/legal-marijuana-use\/driving-and-traveling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">limit<\/a> in Colorado is 5 nanograms\u2014a nanogram is one billionth of a gram\u2014of delta-9 THC per millimeter of blood, but it varies by state. However, there\u2019s a lack of clarity surrounding cannabis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codot.gov\/safety\/impaired-driving\/druggeddriving\/campaign-news\/how-high-is-too-high-to-drive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intoxication<\/a> and THC in the blood. It\u2019s something transportation and law enforcement leaders are actively working to address.<\/p>\n<p>With that said, Colorado law empowers law enforcement officers to assess impairment through roadside evaluations. That means if you demonstrate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codot.gov\/safety\/impaired-driving\/druggeddriving\/campaign-news\/enforcement-detection-what-to-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">signs<\/a> of impairment\u2014no matter what BAC or THC blood tests reveal\u2014you can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codot.gov\/safety\/impaired-driving\/druggeddriving\/campaign-news\/duis-are-costlier-than-you-think-here2019s-the-breakdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">charged<\/a> with a DUI.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike alcohol, cannabis isn\u2019t metabolized in a uniform way or on a predictable timeline\u2014whether you\u2019re smoking or consuming edibles, your tolerance and other factors all play a role. The subjective experience of cannabis impairment also varies wildly. This makes it tricky for consumers to assess if they\u2019re too impaired to drive. Our advice? Just stay off the road if you\u2019ve had any amount of THC or other impairing cannabinoids.<\/p>\n<h3>What if I get pulled over and have THC in my system because I consume cannabis frequently, but I\u2019m not driving impaired?<\/h3>\n<p>A common misconception we\u2019ve heard is the belief that having lingering THC in your system from regular cannabis use can result in a DUI, the way an employer drug test would show cannabis in a person\u2019s system. However, drug tests commonly administered by employers detect <em>inactive<\/em> THC, while impaired driving investigations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codot.gov\/safety\/impaired-driving\/druggeddriving\/campaign-news\/impairment-from-frequent-cannabis-use\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">focus<\/a> on <em>active<\/em> THC in the bloodstream. So, if someone drives sober, even with residual, metabolized THC in their system, they won\u2019t test positive for active THC in tests conducted by law enforcement. Plus, blood tests in Colorado aren\u2019t even conducted until after a DUI arrest (based on visible signs of impairment).<\/p>\n<h3>Can I drive if I\u2019m microdosing cannabis?<\/h3>\n<p>It can be hard to tell how much you can \u201csafely\u201d consume or if you\u2019re too impaired to drive, especially given the nuances of measuring impairment. So, your best bet? Don\u2019t risk it. If you feel different, you drive different.<\/p>\n<p>Numerous studies prove that THC slows reaction time, reduces focus, affects a person\u2019s perception of time and distance and temporarily weakens problem-solving skills. And from our experience, those aren\u2019t things you want working against you when you\u2019re performing an activity that, if it goes wrong, can be deadly to you, other drivers, pedestrians or others who share the roadway.<\/p>\n<p>Call a rideshare. Plan a ride ahead of time. Walk home if you can or find a safe place to stay until you\u2019re sober. There are so many resources these days, driving impaired really shouldn\u2019t be on the table.<\/p>\n<p>For information and resources on cannabis-impaired driving, visit CDOT\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codot.gov\/safety\/impaired-driving\/druggeddriving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DriveHighDUI.com<\/a> website. Visit CDOT\u2019s YouTube channel to learn about the common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLYszme4xVADDYivE4MuDPM87ggXGUapTf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">myths<\/a> about driving high. Additionally, CDOT has partnered with Learn Brands, an online budtender education platform, to provide a free interactive cannabis-impaired driving safety course. View and take CDOT\u2019s Budtender Training <a href=\"https:\/\/www.learnbrands.com\/login\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Course<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Glenn Davis is the highway safety manager in the Colorado Department of Transportation\u2019s (CDOT) Highway Safety Office. His areas of focus include impaired driving, police traffic services, motorcycle safety, young driver safety, legislative analysis and speed enforcement programs. Glenn has worked closely with members of Colorado\u2019s cannabis business and advocacy communities since cannabis was legalized in Colorado in 2012. Glenn also represented CDOT on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis\u2019s Marijuana Working Group and is CDOT\u2019s governor appointee to the Marijuana Education Oversight Committee and POST Marijuana Working Group.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"OsfBHNycpz\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/schumer-and-other-democrats-amplify-calls-for-marijuana-reform-ahead-of-4-20-which-congressman-says-should-be-celebrated-every-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Schumer And Other Democrats Amplify Calls For Marijuana Reform Ahead Of 4\/20, Which Congressman Says Should Be Celebrated \u2018Every Day\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p \/>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/colorado-official-clears-the-air-on-cannabis-consumption-and-driving-ahead-of-4-20-festivities-op-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Colorado Official Clears The Air On Cannabis Consumption And Driving Ahead Of 4\/20 Festivities (Op-Ed)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#013;<br \/>\n&#013;<br \/>\nRead More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/colorado-official-clears-the-air-on-cannabis-consumption-and-driving-ahead-of-4-20-festivities-op-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Colorado Official Clears The Air On Cannabis Consumption And Driving Ahead Of 4\/20 Festivities (Op-Ed)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWhile cannabis has arguably gained mainstream acceptance, driving high has not, thankfully.\u201d By Glenn Davis, Colorado Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office As the wave of legalization continues to roll across the U.S., more people are embracing cannabis. And while cannabis has arguably gained mainstream acceptance, driving high has not,<span class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2024\/04\/18\/colorado-official-clears-the-air-on-cannabis-consumption-and-driving-ahead-of-4-20-festivities-op-ed\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":457,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74363"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/457"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74363"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74364,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74363\/revisions\/74364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}