Weed Smoking Drivers

[UhOh]

Im not from BC but I was really surprised after getting here and witnessing the number of people here that smoke weed while driving.
If out walking i smell it as a car drives by with the windows down. I see people pull up to the gas pump and get out in a cloud of weed smoke.
My neighbor was crossing the crosswalk and had the walk light, some idiot started honking his horn for her to get out of the way. He rolled down the window yelling he was in a hurry and she yelled back "so that means you can run the red light?". He looks ahead and sees it red, looks back at her and say "oops sorry". The neighbor said she could smell weed coming from his open window.
I smell weed daily.

What is it about the culture here that makes people think this is acceptable or tolerable. I see guys smoking weed on their lunch break. There I mind my own business. If they don't perform it up to the employer to sort out.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

I haven't smoked for years but I distinctly remember a day in my 20's when driving under the influence (of pot). Not only could I not concentrate, I couldn't judge my placement on the road. Next thing I knew, I was up on the curb, and not sure how I got there.

I always assumed that, since there's a lot of pot smoked in this city, it was me, and I just couldn't handle it! I never smoked and drove again! ound:

 

[VanessaofBC]

If an officer pulls you over and your car smells like pot...you are ASKING to get searched. Why risk it?

I do not mind the smell of marijuana. As soon as smoking cigarettes is banned from all public places then I would expect the same for marijuana. Until then I will let others smoke their pot wherever they want.

 

[Smilf]

I can't stand the smell of weed.

 

[UhOh]

I don't care if people smoke it while not operating a vehicle. I know of doctors that smoke weed. Before I've come to BC I'd see someone smoking weed a few times a year but here I see it daily.
Why do British Columbians love their weed so much?

 

[VanessaofBC]

I don't care if people smoke it while not operating a vehicle. I know of doctors that smoke weed. Before I've come to BC I'd see someone smoking weed a few times a year but here I see it daily.
Why do British Columbians love their weed so much?

That's a really good question UhOh. But for every person that loves it there is two that hate it.

Did you grow up in Canada? In my Ontario high school, BC was always known for having the best bud. People would get excited "Hey I got a joint of this BC Bud."
However the people who do NOT smoke it do not like the fact that their province has this reputation. I think its better than being known
as Vancouver "oh yeah, the place where that hockey riot happened".

edit: Do I sound like a puritan? I want to assure everyone I am a true hedonist. Nothing Puritan about me being from Ontario.

 

[kickback]

People smoking weed and driving can be hazardous for cyclist around fast food joints.

Why do people from Ontario always come off sounding like puritans? It's like Ontario wants to make the rules for the rest of Canada to follow and we just can't seem to follow their rules

 

[Trus'Me]

I never drive if I've been smoking weed, let alone actually driving and smoking at the same time - That's fuckin crazy. And I'm a born and raised BC hippy.

I'm a good driver, but quickly become a terrible one if stoned - bad decisions and a weird hesitance that's disruptive to traffic flow as I question my otherwise normal actions such as determining the 'point of no return' at intersections. It's a very different type of impairment than the kind of judgement and reaction time issues one gets from alcohol. There's a very short list of the ways alcohol affects people, but with MJ the possible effects range vastly, depending on the person.

Still, the biggest issues on the road aren't weed or even alcohol - It's simply bad drivers, and bad drivers that speed who are killing people; all without a drop of any substance in their system. No, I don't have the links to the stats - A lifetime of riding motorcycles gives me an authority on who's your number one threat on the road.

 

[ilikegurlz]

I never drive if I've been smoking weed, let alone actually driving and smoking at the same time - That's fuckin crazy. And I'm a born and raised BC hippy.

I'm a good driver, but quickly become a terrible one if stoned - bad decisions and a weird hesitance that's disruptive to traffic flow as I question my otherwise normal actions such as determining the 'point of no return' at intersections. It's a very different type of impairment than the kind of judgement and reaction time issues one gets from alcohol. There's a very short list of the ways alcohol affects people, but with MJ the possible effects range vastly, depending on the person.

Still, the biggest issues on the road aren't weed or even alcohol - It's simply bad drivers, and bad drivers that speed who are killing people; all without a drop of any substance in their system. No, I don't have the links to the stats - A lifetime of riding motorcycles gives me an authority on who's your number one threat on the road.

I concur 100%

I also drink alcohol and smoke weed on occasion...yet you will not find me behind the wheel or handlebars when I do...

Learned too many lessons the hard way in my mis-spent youth...

Waaaaay too many bad drivers out there as it is without being too f**ked up to be aware of whats going on.

Play it safe out there kids....

 

[cloud_9]

Not that I condone it but you might wanna watch this study by CNN

http://youtu.be/dw1HavgoK9E

 

[Smilf]

Not that I condone it but you might wanna watch this study by CNN

http://youtu.be/dw1HavgoK9E

I've got no problem with people using it for medicinal purposes at all, I have, but still can't stand the smell of it. Mind you they shouldn't be smoking it, they should be ingesting it http://phoenixtears.ca

 

[sofine]

To me impaired is impaired whether it is alcohol or weed. I've made the mistake a couple of times of driving stoned. Never again. I think it is a different kind of impaired than driving drunk. When drunk one is reckless, often driving too fast, etc. Stoned, at least for me, I felt hesitant, as if I could not control my motor functions. I remember times that I just needed to pull over, park my car, walk home and retrieve my car later after the stone wore off.

I'm all for legalizing or decriminalizing weed but fully support roadside testing for both alcohol AND drugs. Same penalties should be in place for weed impairment as for booze methinks.

I once heard Marc Emery on a radio show say driving stoned was no problem. Couldn't disagree more.

My two cents

 

[kickback]

Good point, I've never heard anyone say that before. If someone can have a glass of wine or a beer and go for a drive without condemnation, why can't we have a puff and do the same? (other than the obvious illegal issue)

What about pot is illegal other than distribution?

 

[vancity_cowboy]

What about pot is illegal other than distribution?

it's defined as an illegal narcotic, for the purposes of possession in any form, without a permit issued for medical purposes

- controlled drugs and substances act 1996

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-38.8/page-1.html#h-1

 

[The Lizard King]

I've been using weed for longer than the vast majority of the posters here have been alive. I hate smoke so I'm down to using a vapourizer and ingesting it, but it absolutely has medicinal value for me in that it helps with depression, the fact I think 24/7 which is a blessing career wise but a curse life balance wise, and it helps me cope a bit better when I venture out. I find the Vancouver area to be like most cities, congested and angry, especially when driving. A quick puff before I head out and I relax a little more, not in as much of a hurry, and I'm less likely to look at people in a negative manner. I also find sex better an hour or two after ingesting it.

However, I see no need to inconvenience people with second hand smoke of any kind on the premise I've smoked weed just as I don't wish to subject people to my loud music just because I enjoy it. That's just plain inconsiderate. Asking why so many people in Vancouver or B.C. smoke is a little ridiculous though. Mostly it's a case of what area you're in. For instance, I smell it downtown in some parts and on Commercial Drive quite frequently but not in the Heights part of Burnaby walking down Hastings or the Main and Kind Ed area perusing antique shops.

 

[kickback]

it's defined as an illegal narcotic, for the purposes of possession in any form, without a permit issued for medical purposes

- controlled drugs and substances act 1996

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-38.8/page-1.html#h-1

Well then someone needs to let the police know because people openly smoke pot in front of them here in Vancouver.

 

[The Lizard King]

Yeah but I would hope the police have bigger priorities than busting some guy walking down the street puffing on a joint.

 

[InnocentBoy]

Nearly had some stoned jerk off tbone me as he tried to make a left turn. Saw his totally stoned eyes and him mouth "wooooooah duuuuuude" joint in hand, as i swerved into the other lane to avoid his stoner ass.

 

[The Lizard King]

Sorry about that, dude!

 

[badbadboy]

I don't drink and drive. I think there should be zero tolerance for driving while high too. So many bad drivers out there that you need all your faculties to navigate around town these days.

Driving through East Van last night a SUV kept changing lanes or just driving down the middle of two lanes and almost clipped me a few times. At a light I rolled down the window and asked him to choose one lane or at least signal that he is changing lanes. Sure enough, he was baked and had no clue what I was talking about so BS to Emery and his theory that a stoned person can drive.