This just in from Nathan Miller at MPP:

“In a last ditch effort to push the bad “zero-tolerance” DUI bill through the Kentucky Legislature, proponents of SB 5 have now attached this misguided legislation to yet another House bill – HB 315 – in the form of a floor amendment.  HB 315 SFA1 now joins HB 369 SFA1 as the vehicle for a horrible proposal that would punish the prior use of controlled substances like marijuana with an automatic DUI conviction, regardless of whether the driver was actually impaired.”

Once again we urge you to call your Kentucky legislators and let them know what a bad idea “zero tolerance” is and that this bill will guarantee that innocent people will be prosecuted.

Kentucky legislators continue to try and misuse the state’s traffic safety laws to target adults who use marijuana responsibly in the privacy of their own home. Please help us stop them.

Several weeks ago we wrote you about Senate Bill 5, an act to criminalize anyone who operates a motor vehicle with any detectable level of marijuana in their blood.

On Tuesday, March 10, proponents attached SB 5 as an amendment to House Bill 369. Because HB 369 overwhelmingly passed the House, the amended version may enjoy enough support to pass the Senate; however, it must be called to the Senate floor for a vote before Friday or it dies.

If passed, this amendment 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.

Please write your legislators today and urge them to oppose Senate Floor Amendment 1 (HB 369 SFA1). For your convenience, a pre-written letter will be e-mailed to your elected
officials  when you go here. http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=12671761

After you have sent your legislators an e-mail, please follow up with a phone call to your state senator and ask him or her to vote “no” on HB 369, Senate Floor Amendment 1.  Time is of the essence, so please write and call today.

Thank you for supporting NORML’s marijuana law reform efforts in Kentucky.

Download the NORML Daily Audio Stash for 2009-03-11

Download audio file (NORML_Daily_AudioStash_2009-03-11.mp3)

Hemp Headlines

1. Seattle Police Chief to Be Named Drug Czar Today
2. Decriminalization hearing in Montana
3. Kentucky legislators place Senate drugged driving bill as amendment to House crime bill
4. Minnesota medical marijuana passes 2nd committee vote without dissent

Cannabis Science

• Dr. Mitch Earleywine discusses appearance on CBS Health debate and Dr. Kevin Sabet’s op-ed against legalization

Daily Toker Tunes

• Reggae Wednesday – ‘Nice and Proper’ by Jah Elect

Cannabis Conversation

• John Masterson from Montana NORML on decrim bill hearing

Hey, Stashers, I’m trying out a new format for the Stash blog post.  What do you think?

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.

Subject: Last Chance To Oppose Zero Tolerance Marijuana Measure

Kentucky legislators are trying to misuse the state’s traffic safety laws to target and prosecute 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 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. (More information on this subject is available from NORML here.)

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 your representative and urge them to oppose Senate Bill 5. If your representative sits on the House Judiciary Committee then it is especially important that he or she hears from you. For your convenience, a pre-written letter will be e-mailed to your state representatives when you go here.

Thank you for supporting NORML’s marijuana law reform efforts in Kentucky.

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. (More information on this subject is available from NORML here.)

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 your elected officials and urge them to oppose Senate Bill 5. If your senator sits on the Senate Rules Committee then it is especially important that he or she hears from you. For your convenience, a pre-written letter will be e-mailed to your state representative when you enter your contact information below.