Oppose Zero Tolerance ‘Drugged’ Driving Bill In Kentucky — House Judiciary Committee May Vote TOMORROW!
Kentucky legislators are trying to misuse the state’s traffic safety laws to target adults who use marijuana responsibly in the privacy of their own home. It’s up to you to stop them.
Senate Bill 5, an act to criminalize anyone who operates a motor vehicle with any detectable level of marijuana in their blood, was recently approved by the state Senate and is now before the House of Representatives. It is possible that members of this Committee are planning on voting on this measure TOMORROW!
It is imperative that you contact your elected officials today and urge them to stop this misguided campaign against responsible cannabis consumers.
If passed, Senate Bill 5 would mandate criminal penalties for any person who operates a motor vehicle with any measurable level of THC in their blood. This proposal would improperly impact cannabis consumers because THC can remain detectable at low levels in the blood of daily marijuana users for up to 1 or 2 days after past use. In the case of chronic smokers, THC may be detectable in the blood for even longer periods of time.
Someone who smokes marijuana is impaired as a driver — at most — for a few hours, not days. To treat marijuana smokers as if they are impaired, even when the drug’s effects have long worn off, is illogical and unfair.
In addition, Kentucky already has laws on the books targeting and prosecuting drivers who operate a motor vehicle “under the influence” of illicit drugs. Senate Bill 5 creates a separate crime of “drugged driving” that is, potentially, divorced from impairment and that could jail motorists for simply having consumed an illicit substance at some prior, unspecified date.
Please take a moment today to contact the Chair and Vice Chairs of the House Judiciary Committee and tell them to reject SB 5. Please relay to them the following:
“I urge you to vote ‘no’ on Senate Bill 5.
Senate Bill 5 would mandate criminal penalties for any person who operates a motor vehicle with any measurable level of THC in their blood. This proposal would improperly impact cannabis consumers because THC can remain detectable at low levels in the blood of daily marijuana users for up to 1 or 2 days after past use. In the case of chronic smokers, THC may be detectable in the blood for even longer periods of time.
Someone who smokes marijuana is impaired as a driver — at most — for a few hours, not days. To treat marijuana smokers as if they are impaired, even when the drug’s effects have long worn off, is illogical and unfair.
In addition, Kentucky already has effect-based laws on the books targeting and prosecuting drivers who operate a motor vehicle “under the influence” of illicit drugs. This is a multidisciplinary standard that focuses on the totality of circumstances — most importantly, that the driver is visibly impaired — and rightly punishes motorists who drive while impaired from having recently used illicit drugs. There is no need for additional legislation.”
Thank you for supporting NORML’s marijuana law reform efforts in Kentucky.
stop the madness