Two weeks after the marijuana lobby descended on Congress, Senators Cory Gardner and Elizabeth Warren announced legislation that would prevent Federal officials from enforcing the nation’s drug laws. Senator Cory Gardner has abandoned his integrity and common sense to support the emerging marijuana industry instead of his constituents. The bill he and Senator Elizabeth Warren are sponsoring is based upon two false statements Gardner has given to his constituents:
- Marijuana legalization is a states’ rights issue;
Colorado’s HB18-1258 that would have permitted marijuana “tasting rooms” passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor HIckenlooper. The Governor cited concerns with increased impaired driving as a reason for his veto.
This week the Cannabis Industry Association (CIA) presented its 
Colorado’s Republican Representative Polly Lawrence and Democratic Representative Jonathan Singer sponsored a request to the State’s Legislative Council to form in interim study committee to consider new evidence on DUID, and to determine if that evidence demonstrated a need for legislation in the 2019 regular legislative session.
Drugged driving creates victims, regardless of the cause: opioids, methamphetamine, marijuana, polydrug use, or many others. So we’re pleased to support the initiative of SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) sponsorship of a petition to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chou, the National Governors Association and the National Council of State Legislatures. The petition requests increased support for both public education on the dangers of DUID, as well as more tools for law enforcement to prevent drugged … 
Like most sensible people, I try to avoid Washington DC. But 
Drugged driving is a complex problem that invites simplistic solutions like, “Why doesn’t ‘science’ determine an impairment level for each drug so we can deal with them like we do alcohol?” We’ve long believed that solving our drugged driving problem requires a number of separate initiatives to deal with the various aspects of the problem. See, for example, our “Principles of DUID Victim Voices” tab on this website.
DUID Victim Voices has focused only on drugged driving, leaving the issue of legalizing impairing drugs like marijuana to others. After all, drugged driving is a serious problem regardless of whether or not marijuana is legalized. Legalization just makes it harder for states to deal responsibly with DUID.
February 12th Ed Wood of DUID Victim Voices presented Driving Under the Influence of Drugs to Mr. Tony Pechek’s classes at Pueblo West High School. The presentation 
Vermont’s legislature wants to be the first in the nation to legalize marijuana via legislative action, rather than the ballot box. Governor Phil Scott has pushed back based on concerns about making the drug available to children, and the effect legalization would have on highway safety.