Colorado DOT Celebrates 420 Day With Marijuana Use Campaign

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

While the Internet celebrated Monday with Snoop Dogg, Cheech and Chong, the Colorado DOT did its part to ensure 420 Day revellers didn’t get high and drive.

Per AutoGuide, CDOT kicked off its safe marijuana use campaign over the weekend with a number of sites offering games, activities, and assorted snacks featuring guidance on what’s legal in Colorado and how much one can be fined for being caught driving while high.

According to CDOT Communication Manager Sam Cole, the agency has a responsibility “to pioneer marijuana education campaigns to keep our roadways safe” via “unique and eye-catching” methods meant to grab the attentions of cannabis consumers in the hope of reinforcing safe consumption and laws surrounding the legal use of pot in so doing.

Current legislation states a driver with 5 nanograms of THC in their blood can be arrested for DUI, as determined by a given officer’s observations at the time of the stop. Critics of the legislation state that those levels will still be in the bloodstream long after the other more intoxicating effects have worn off, especially among regular chronic users.

[Image source: Nick Harper/CIG]

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

More by Cameron Aubernon

Comments
Join the conversation
8 of 44 comments
  • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Apr 21, 2015

    "its illegal to smoke, eat, dab, vape in public" It's illegal to eat in public?

    • See 2 previous
    • Madanthony Madanthony on Apr 22, 2015

      @28-Cars-Later My guess is they are talking about "edibles" - pot brownies, candy, cookies, ect infused with weed.

  • Ttacgreg Ttacgreg on Apr 21, 2015

    Let's see here , what would give away a stoned driver? What behavioral evidence might a policeman notice? I would suppose if said vehicle was doing the speed limit , staying perfectly centered in its lane , and driving non-aggressively and maintaining proper distance. That would stand out among all the other aggressive and/or drunk drivers. A vehicle strictly abiding by all traffic laws? .... quick , pull him over and check for marijuana use! That behavior traffic would describe me when I'm stoned and driving. Of course when road tripping in neighboring states , ( particularly Oklahoma and Nebraska ), my Colorado plates are probably evidence enough .

    • FreedMike FreedMike on Apr 22, 2015

      "Let’s see here , what would give away a stoned driver?" Trying to drive while eating a huge microwave burrito. So busted.

  • See 7 up See 7 up on Apr 21, 2015

    I'm not condoning driving while high, but traffic fatalities are down about 15+% in CO since legalization. Traffic fatalities in states with some form of legal marijuana have trended lower than states that have maintained complete prohibition. The NHTSA did a study and did not find marijuana use results increased accidents. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/02/nhtsa-marijuana-use-not-likely-increase-accident-risk/ Again, I don't condone it, but given the vast numbers of people that have, do and will use marijuana, traffic accidents do not appear to be a signifiant issue. What is the cause. Hard to say. Maybe "sober" is not the de facto best driving state. Maybe driving high is not ideal, but the people that would have driven drunk are maybe substituting to make a statistical difference. Marijuana acts completely differently than alcohol. Alcohol has the very dangerous combination of increasing reaction time, lowering inhibitions and removing/lowering risk tolerance. That is what makes it deadly. Marijuana may lower reaction times, but like old people, it may be compensated. Who knows - but the numbers and studies don't show its the next "danger" (especially since pot has been used for decades prior to legalization) What i find disturbing is the automatic lumping of marijuana related DUI into the same penalty as alcohol DUI. I'd think many would balk at giving texting tickets the same severity, and yet they have been found to be as dangerous (or more so) than marijuana.

  • Rpn453 Rpn453 on Apr 24, 2015

    They missed the most important rule: do only one illegal activity at a time.

Next