While legal medical marijuana has brought relief to thousands of patients in Arizona since 2010, it has also brought about an increase in the number of cannabis-related DUI’S in the state.
Statistics from this past holiday season reveal that the majority of DUI’s – 56 percent – were for drugs (including other legal and illegal substances besides pot) compared to just 16 percent of drug DUI’s in 2002. In all, 1,700 people were arrested in 2011 in Mesa for drug DUI’s, which constituted 52 percent of all DUI arrests for the year.
Arizona pot patients are not permitted to drive while medicated and Mesa P.D. Sergeant David Miecke told the East Valley Tribune that drivers ranging from seniors to teenagers have been busted for drug DUI’s. He predicted the number of pot DUI’s will increase dramatically this summer once the state-approved dispensaries open to provide medicine to even more patients.
Sgt. Miecke also made the claim that pot use can impair one’s driving for a day or more. There is, however, absolutely no evidence to back up that statement.
Nonetheless, a warning is in order for pot patients in the Valley of the Sun; don’t drive while medicating – or already medicated – because law enforcement is obviously out there looking any excuse to portray the nascent medicinal cannabis scene in Arizona as being abused and out of control. Don’t give them the opportunity.