DUID Victim Network
The Canadian Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization has promoted two initiatives to the Canadian government, one of which we support, and one of which we do not. The following letter was sent to MADD, explaining our position:
I understand you are promoting availability of oral fluid testing for use at roadside, which I commend. We are doing the same in Colorado, where most of my effort is concentrated. We also hope to use these devices … READ MORE
Friday, March 28, 2014, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) hosted a town hall meeting on medical marijuana. Dr. Larry Wolk, the department’s chief medical officer announced that doctors will now be required to provide more documentation to support any recommendation for more than 6 marijuana plants per patient.
Some castigated Wolk for demanding justification for more than 6 marijuana plants per patient. Others are relieved to see what appears to be some … READ MORE
SB 14-155 was introduced to the Colorado State Legislature March 10th.
It seeks to use state funds to further “research” to promote the beneficial effects of marijuana.
This bill should not even see the light of day for at least the following reasons:
Two articles released last month reach starkly different conclusions about the effect of marijuana use on driving safety:
Brady, J.E., Li, G., Trends in Alcohol and Other Drugs in Fatally Injured Drivers in the United States, 1999-2010, American Journal of Epidemiology, January 29, 2014
Romano, E., Torres-Saavedra, P., Voas, R., Lacey, J.H., Drugs and Alcohol: Their Relative Crash Risk, Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, January 2014
The first has been widely quoted … READ MORE
This week we sent a letter to Governor Hickenlooper: Hickenlooper 3 It suggests ways of collecting, analyzing and publishing DUID data essential to understanding drugged driving in our state. It further suggests that the $7.1 million that Colorado is allocating to sponsor “research” to promote use of marijuana could be better spent solving our DUID data deficit.
The Denver Post agreed with some of our points, and issued an editorial of support… READ MORE
Two stories in the December 27, 2013 Denver Post tell Colorado what to expect in the coming years from the Post.
First, the sad story of Dora Gayton-Esparza, 35, and Daniela Medina-Gayton, 6. Dora was killed and Daniela was seriously injured by Johnny Cephas-Gilbert, 37. The Post reported that Cepahas-Gilbert was charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, noting that he reeked of alcohol and marijuana when arrested.
We already know the outcome of this … READ MORE
Colorado’s legislature will convene January 8, 2014. So perhaps it’s timely to propose a DUID legislative wish list for the year. We will discuss each of these in separate blog entries over the next weeks and months.
1 DUID statistical analysis.
Create new statistical tracking tools to properly document the number of DUI and DUID arrests. This would include the ability to distinguish different types of drug categories in DUID arrests. This initiative could be … READ MORE
The short answer is that no one knows.
Critics of stricter DUID bills claim that, since Colorado’s DUI conviction rate is reported to be nearly 90%, there is no need for additional laws governing drugged driving.
There are two problems with that statement. First of all, Colorado’s current DUI law, C.R.S. 42-4-1301 (1), does not distinguish between alcohol-impaired driving (DUI) and drug-impaired driving (DUID). Therefore, Judicial data that are commonly cited for the 85% – … READ MORE
Marijuana is a plant, not a purified drug. It consists of dozens of chemicals that vary, depending upon the plant’s strain and culture. Of the several dozen chemicals in marijuana, Delta -9 tetrahydrocannabinol is the one of primary interest because of its psychoactive, impairing effects. It is also referred to as ?9THC, or simply THC.
There are other forms of THC such as carboxy-THC, that is non-impairing, and hydroxy-THC that is impairing. Other cannabinoid chemicals … READ MORE
Proponents of a 5 ng THC law argue that Dr. Jan Ramaekers told Colorado’s Drug Policy Task Force (DPTF) that 5 ng THC equals .08 BAC. Dr. Ramaekers is a good scientist from the Netherlands. NHTSA contracts with him to perform impairment studies. He’s highly regarded.
Dr. Ramaekers also said,
• “A THC limit is to protect the general public.”
• “Combined cannabis plus alcohol in any dose is bigger than either alone.”
• “Impairment