Nebraska Lawmakers Consider Dangerous Drugged Driving Legislation

Please urge Nebraska lawmakers to reject Legislative Bill 659, which seeks to improperly define marijuana consumers as “drugged drivers” even if they are neither under the influence nor impaired to drive.

LB 659 makes it a criminal offense for any person to operate a motor vehicle if any level of marijuana or non-psychoactive marijuana metabolites (byproducts) are present in their blood, saliva, urine, or any other bodily fluid. Because marijuana’s main metabolite, carboxy THC, remains detectable in certain bodily fluids, particularly urine, for weeks or even months after past use, this legislation punishes drivers for simply having consumed marijuana at some previous, unspecified point in time.

This proposal is neither a safe nor sensible way to identify impaired drivers; it is an attempt to misuse the traffic safety laws in order to identify and prosecute marijuana consumers, including medical patients.

LB 659 awaits action from the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.

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Nebraska Lawmakers Consider Dangerous Drugged Driving Legislation