(WA) WSP stepping up patrols for drivers high on pot

[Jesus Malverde]

The Washington State Patrol is requiring troopers to complete training in “Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement.” The training is part of a course to help troopers spot people driving while high on marijuana.
In Washington, driving under the influence is no longer just about alcohol. The legalization of marijuana has added a new dimension to patrols.

Troopers use a 5 nano-gram basis, much like the .08 level for alcohol, to determine if a person is driving while high on pot.

“This became a law in Washington, We're going to monitor it, we're going to pay attention to it and if some adjustments need to be made in the way we do business, then we're going to make the adjustments,” said Sgt. Jason Hicks of the WSP.

So far, adjustments seem to be needed. In 2012 there were 5,298 samples tested from drivers pulled-over in Washington, and 988 of them came back positive for marijuana.

In just the first 6 months of 2013, 2,739 samples were taken, and 745 have tested positive. If that trend continues, driving high will increase more than 33 percent this year.

“So marijuana is all about impairment," Hicks said. "That's just what runs the show.”

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/WSP-stepping-up-patrols-for-drivers-high-on-pot-231838241.html

Terrible add on to last years legalization.

[defacto7]

1. What about the thousands of people

who's tests came back negative? That's a lot of blood tests for... what?

[Th1onein]

2. This testing doesn't even make sense.

If you smoked the night before, you could have this level. This is really, really stupid.

[99th_Monkey]

3. Back-door prohibition driven by paranoia & ignorance. ~nt

[Th1onein]

4. You got it.

[CanSocDem]

5. All they have is 'profiling'...

"The training is part of a course to help troopers spot people driving while high on marijuana."


...so avoiding fitting the profile would seem to counter-act this specious pursuit.


Legitimate Component of the Profile

1. Bad driving (single vehicle accidents, leaving your signal light on, or not using it, driving too slow etc.)

Illegitimate Component of "Profile".

1. Looks suspicious.




.

[RosettaStoned77]

6. Better off before?

I grew up in Seattle and Tacoma. Now living in Oregon, when the law passed I thought things were better there. Very shortly after the law passed I spoke to my best friend back in T-Town and he told me about the new, stricter DUID enforcement. Just speaking from my own experience, I have never heard of anyone I know being in an accident caused by cannabis. And I already know that with my dreads and Misfits hoodie I would be the first to be tested out of a random roadside stop/check. Also, while the law does allow for personal use, it does not allow for the manufacture or sales of "legal" cannabis. I have never had to worry about being tested for pot on a traffic stop, but if I return to my home state I just may. And considering that "legal" users still have to purchase their cannabis from "illegal, street dealers" at the same prohibition era prices, I do not see the benefit of this new freedom. SHIT! It was already decriminalized in the years when I was growing up. And I never was charged with any cannabis related crime. We were better off before, methinks.