Driving stoned

[Usarka]

...aka labour strikes again...

It will soon be illegal to drive stoned on illegal drugs if a new law is passed. Most of us probably think this is a reasonably law (dammit).

But the rocket surgeons have specifically excluded prescription medicine! so load up on the valium temazapam sleeping pills and various uppers and downers from your freindly GP and go for a drive because evidently thats acceptable.

Sorry dude i didnt see your bike i was too wasted but its ok its legal shit man

much like its ok to be a crap driver as long as you dont faster than 100kph


otherwise bahahahahaahaha

[jrandom]

Toking up on the motorway while steering my 4WD with my knees is my favourite way to wind down after a stressful day at the advertising agency.

It'll be a sad day when they make it illegal.

What do they think I pay my taxes for, anyway?

[Swoop]

Surprise, surprise. The green party isn't supporting it (at the moment).

[007XX]

It'll be interesting to see what comes out of that one...

[Usarka]

Surprise, surprise. The green party isn't supporting it (at the moment).

Yeah for once i actually agree with the greens. if a wasted driver is dangerous it shouldnt matter what they're wasted on - surely?

hi im helen

[tri boy]

Stopped at a stop sign while on Gold Tops last week.
Didn't move for six hours.

[Tank]

if you are found guilty of driving on illegal drugs - do you get a drug conviction as well as the driving one?

[jrandom]

do you get a drug conviction as well as the driving one?

As far as I'm aware, you can't get a drug conviction for testing positive to illegal substances. The only available offences relate to possession or distribution.

I could be wrong.

[peasea]

Toking up on the motorway while steering my 4WD with my knees is my favourite way to wind down after a stressful day at the advertising agency.

It'll be a sad day when they make it illegal.

What do they think I pay my taxes for, anyway?

That's probably part of the issue; they don't get a tax take on pot.

[onearmedbandit]

Yeah that's my understanding as well. There was talk of changing the law so they could hit you on both counts.

[yod]

Stopped at a stop sign while on Gold Tops last week.
Didn't move for six hours.

bloody hell...that brings back a few memories

lake pukaki at 6am....road was made of lego...and the hills were grooving

[jrandom]

There was talk of changing the law so they could hit you on both counts.

Is it very politically incorrect of me to observe that cannabis does not seem to cause the same level of impairment as alcohol?

I'm unconvinced as to whether the cost/benefit ratio of an enforcement effort targeted at drugs other than alcohol would be worthwhile in road safety terms.

[onearmedbandit]

Agreed on both points.

[mstriumph]

Is it very politically incorrect of me to observe that cannabis does not seem to cause the same level of impairment as alcohol?

I'm unconvinced as to whether the cost/benefit ratio of an enforcement effort targeted at drugs other than alcohol would be worthwhile in road safety terms.

prolly get a lot less road-rage if they outlawed booze and made cannabis compulsary?

[davereid]

Interestingly we have a standard for alcohol or a level of impairment threshold.

Aside from all debate about the validity of that level, there doesn't appear to be any impairment threshold in the new test - they only need to detect usage.

(Anybody have any better info ?)

So if you smoke a joint, quite legally in the Netherlands, Spain, Colorado or Alaska, and then get stopped in New Zeaalnd a week later you may in trouble.

While you are not impaired (unless it was a very good smoke) THC is detectable for months as it is fat soluble.