Pot heads and C-Dory?

I guess I am a lot more concerned about impairment from other drugs.

Here is why: In 2010 the son of a longtime buddy was killed in a three fatality collision on Whidbey Island caused by another driver. At that time, WA had no ready process for determining the impairment of a driver by illicit drugs. Partly for this reason, despite the presence of methamphetamine and heroin metabolites in her blood, the driver escaped conviction on any impairment grounds, although she was convicted of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. See below for details.

In response, my friend Ed embarked on a concerted effort to push for legislation in his home state (CO), and others, which would set standards for per se impairment, similar to the blood alcohol standards in force nationwide. In addition, Ed established an organization to assist victims of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID): http://duidvictimvoices.org

The technology to similarly test for impairment by THC is not mature, as yet, but I believe legalization of the use of marijuana will push the implemention of quicker, lower cost testing procedures. Perhaps a subtle, beneficial effect of legalization.

For the curious, a link to the legal outcome for the driver: http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/121193619.html
 
Interesting thread. I would rather be in a room full baked people than a room full of drunk people. Having alcohol being legal and weed not legal seems just silly to me. In time most states will relax its stance on the issue. Just for so many years we were led to believe it is horrible. After seeing some people who treat various conditions like seizures, head aches and anxiety it seems foolish to demonize it.

Good for you Washington State!

It will be a few years before my state will relax its uptight midwest values. Being mindful that we have more bars and beer producers here than almost anywhere.

Personally I don't use the stuff but I certainly would not chastise someone who does........................... as I take a long pull from a beer.
 
chromer":1f42h17h said:
Pandion":1f42h17h said:
I voted against legalizing pot; was convinced it would lead to all kinds of problems--stoned driving, stoned children, good people running amok, bad behavior all around. But so far I haven't seen evidence of any of that. It's too early for us to know the all longterm impacts of legalization on public health, but I suspect we'll find it's a lot more benign than alcohol..
Click to expand...

Here are 3 high profile car crashes with some fatalities in Washington state...

http://q13fox.com/2012/12/18/driver-charged-with-dui-marijuana-after-fatal-crash-in-vancouver-wa/
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today...an-who-caused-highway-2-crash-had-smoked-pot/
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/...igil-for-teens-killed-in-crash-288361371.html
Click to expand...

Thanks Chromer. I hadn't seen those sad stories. In a few years this experiment will have provided enough real data for other states to make informed decisions on whether to follow Washington's example.
 
I don't know Washington but i can tell you pot is everywhere in California. I know very few people that if offered a joint here would say no. That being the case here it makes little financial sense to enforce a ban. I say tax it, regulate it, and get it off the black market.
 
How about all the car crashes, fatalities by drunk drivers? Or dumb asses driving while talking or texting on their phone? Or trying to retrieve a pickle that dropped out of their Big Mac they were scarfing down while doing 65 mph on the freeway? How " high profile" does it have to be?
 
Spike,

Haven't seen you on the lake recently!

I think all it takes is a texter meeting on a 2-lane with a bake head (or drunk). Bake head comes over the line, texter doesnt see it and all the sudden you have a nasty fatality. Maybe the Google self driving car can take care of these scenarios.
 
Hey Chromer
My grand daughter and brand new just outta the package grand son have really cut into my fishing/boating time. But I would not have it any other way! Am going to try hard to make up for lost rod time this year. Done any good on cutts?
 
I too would enjoy a survey of who partakes.
I thought the name of the joint was misleading and caused me undo/excess excitement. Dockside here means navigable waters with dock access that you just get out of your boat and walk into. Place would require a cab ride or pick up at best. They should have to change the name to A Bit Inland or something a bit more geographically accurate.
I too have found many advantages of an occasional use rather than the prescription meds I had been prescribed for several years. Man, just comparing side effects...or lack of is way different and much safer.
Any accident where folks are hurt or killed is bad. It hurts to loose family members and friends. Now some of my personal research is/was not overly scientific, many things not tried multiple times to gather sufficient data, but then again, not a single dollar of taxes from city, county, state or national level have been spent. I funded it all myself. Some of this research was gathered from causal observations...of others...so I am not admitting to braking any laws...or operating any motorized gizmo under the influence of anything.
WEED vs ALCOHOL
Never had to set cruise control to maintain the MINIMUM speed limit on ALCOHOL.
Never have been in a bar brawl on weed.
Never grew 6" taller, got meaner or bullet proof on weed.
Never turned down an offer for a ride home on weed...and then drove myself.
Never had to cover for, carry the work load of, or change duty assignments of anyone who had just enjoyed a couple of bowls the night before.

I do hope they can get some type of drug test for driving impaired test for the THC. DUI is DUI... I have no idea how long the amount of THC stays in the body. I know if even small amounts used daily..it shows up for a very long time on drug test after use.

I know weed is much safer than the many "made in the garage" drugs that are so popular with our youth now days. Spend the law enforcement monies saved on attempting to stamp out weed on shutting down these guys.

I left WA before visiting a legal selling store. As long as they do not tax it where it cost more there than the places it was purchased before...then it is better, cleaner, ....and taxable!

Thanks for the links on the 3 wrecks Chromer. But, looking at them, 3 reports since December of 2012 are not near as many as alcohol related accidents.... #1 may not have been avoidable if the driver that was charged had not been impaired in any way. Man steps into traffic..avoiding the two legal intersections/walk ways he was between. Sort of like when a deer jumps out in front of you. # 2 The mother must have opened her container somewhere other than in her home. Breaking the WA law as Larry stated. An, with children in the car. Some folks should not make babies or be parents. #3 The kid charged was 17...not 21 as Larry stated...breaking the law.

Now caffeine is a drug no argument...and boy did not WA loose out on taxing that!

ON EDIT...I FEEL A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SHARE WITH ALL THAT AFTER OVER 35 YEARS AS A MARRIED MAN.... I HAVE PRODUCES NO BABIES, AND, I AM NOT A PARENT. YOU CAN ALL REST PEACEFULLY NOW.

:cigar :clock Cheers!
 
Hey Byrdman! you'll be happy to know that Camano Island now has a place called "budhut" just as you get on the island. I haven't been in there, but drive by it every day and it appears to be a thriving business.

I don't see many changes from the new legislation. My friends who didn't smoke before, still don't. I think the only real problem is the state shot themselves in the foot. From what I've heard the now legal weed shops charge $30 for what would cost $10 on the street or at one of the many medical dispensaries.

Some of my underemployed friends have taken this states' new stance as permission to turn their garages and basements into grow operations to help pay the bills. The state is no longer pursuing these growers and they can undercut the legal markets, or sell directly to the medical facilities. I've walked through these little indoor farms and am impressed. That's the problem with this legislation... the state got too greedy and the underground market is thriving more than ever.

I don't smoke the stuff anymore since I used up too many brain cells as a youngster... but if I was retired that would probably change. For now Ill enjoy my evening beer and not judge folks that want to puff on their weed.
 
Watched a Dr. Oz show the other day. He had some folks take over the counter cold and flu medicine and try to drive a car through an obstacle course, they could not. And it stayed in their system for 24 hours. So, wheres the regulation there or the uproar.
Jim
 
Kudos to Da Nags comments.
When I used to take scuba charters off NC ,the captain knew some divers liked to bring a smoke or two for the long ride back to relieve seasick queasy people. He asked in advance not to bring it because the coast guard could confiscate his boat ,and that would end his business. How fair would that be to lose your boat over something like that? Surely there are real criminals somewhere that need our tax dollars chasing them.
 
Marijuana (single use) stays in urine for 1-7+ days and in blood for 12-24 hrs

the most popular kind of drug test is the urine test, which can detect marijuana for days or weeks after use. Note that urine tests do not detect the psychoactive component in marijuana, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), and therefore in no way measure impairment; rather, they detect the non-psychoactive marijuana metabolite THC-COOH, which can linger in the body for days and weeks with no impairing effects. Because of THC-COOH's unusually long elimination time, urine tests are more sensitive to marijuana than other commonly used drugs. According to a survey by Quest Diagnostics, 50% of all drug test positives are for marijuana.

Blood tests are a better detector of recent use, since they measure the active presence of THC in the system. Because they are invasive and difficult to administer, blood tests are used less frequently. They are typically used in investigations of accidents, injuries and DUIs, where they can give a useful indication of whether the subject was actually under the influence.
source CA State Police
 
chucko":2rrpuzz3 said:
SNIP
When I used to take scuba charters off NC ,the captain knew some divers liked to bring a smoke or two [pot] for the long ride back ....to relieve seasick queasy
people.
Click to expand...

SCUBA divers liking to smoke.... ???

Of all the idiotic reasons to indulge in smoking this seems to be near the top of
the list. FYI: "Mal de mer" is prevented by staying ashore. And, you're 'smoking'.
How about [pot] laced brownies instead?

Haven't heard what the Surgeon General has to say about smoking? How about
the American Medical Association or the American Cancer Society? I'am sure
even PADI doesn't recommend it.

But then it's really none of my business.

Aye.

Grandma used to say, "It's not over until you know the rest of the story."
Grandpa used to say, "Stupid should hurt."
 
Come on Foggy those guys are drawing in more crap in their lungs by breathing the diesel exhaust back draft from the charter boat engine in the half hour or so run to the dive site than what they are getting from a couple of hits off of a joint. I do agree about not risking your boat or business over smoking pot on board.
 
Thank you Brent. It is the testing of impairment that I am interested in and where I think we need to spend some of that new tax money.

I have and use a Alcohawk ABI at my house.

That probably shocks some of you, but behind some occasional humor there is a serious caring man here.

My guest are free to use it prior to departing....or..at times...it is used to give us an unbiased opinion if someone should drive, be driven, or just stay till things wear off.

I have looked, but can not find a device (affordable) for weed yet.... for my guest at home in CO or WA.
www.Q3.com

Byrdman
 
Spike":1kme9cg5 said:
Come on Foggy those guys are drawing in more crap in their lungs by breathing the diesel exhaust back draft from the charter boat engine in the half hour or so run to the dive site than what they are getting from a couple of hits off of a joint. I do agree about not risking your boat or business over smoking pot on board.
Click to expand...

Spike:

Breathing smoke directly from something handheld vs a different toxin from
several meters away = not apples to apples comparison. Were you enjoying some
weed at the time you wrote this?

Please cite a credible reference to support the idea that smoking 'anything' is
beneficial to your lungs and/or general long term health.

Aye.

Grandma used to say, "Smoking is smoking. And, when there's smoke,
there is fire."
 
If you really want to save your lungs....quit breathing. And if you fear toxins, best to find another planet.

I do believe enough has been said. As a courtesy to the administrators of the site, lets just drop the subject. We all have opinions and every right to them. No ones mind is being changed and there is really no point in continuing. And yes, I realize I just broke my own suggestion.

James
 
Actually, I've kind of enjoyed listening to this discussion, or at least interested in the comments. But I sit somewhere in the middle on the legalization of "weed". Personally, I have never smoked, anything. And I'm not much of a drinker either. Yes, alcohol seems to cause a lot of pain, emotional and physical. But it's also legal and rampant in use. I suspect "weed" is not used as prevalently as alcohol, but perhaps it is. Thus we don't see the same issues with it that we do with Alcohol. Living in Wisconsin, I am very aware of the alcohol problem with driving, as we see those arrested for their 7th, 8th, 9th and more DWI! But we also have a growing problem with Heroin users on the roads! I have heard the arguments for medical use of marijuana, and if it indeed helps, then I'm all for it. But as with alcohol, if one's recreational use is going to be irresponsible, then please don't do it on my time or my roads. Or bringing this back to a boating forum, stay off the lakes. OTOH, if one simply desires a responsible toke, or drink, by all means enjoy yourselves and continue to respect the peace of those around you. Colby
 
I'm glad this thread has progressed the way it has. The combination of pot and boats has always raised questions in my mind. As a USCG licensed mariner, i can't touch the stuff; It would put me at risk of losing my license and my job. Though what about all the people that come out on my boat? How big of a deal is it really to the USCG if someone has a dime bag on them? To answer this I asked a friend who is a USCG officer who frequently conducts vessel boardings, he wrote me this:

"Small levels of MJ come up all the time. It's a big grey area. Your Boarding Officer will probably see if his boss will entertain a violation and prosecution. Depending on which way the wind is blowing...You may have to dump your stash over the side or set a court date."

For me this means the pot stays on the dock, it just isn't worth the risk to me. Though I do find this a shame because i personally don't see the harm in one of my passengers smoking a joint. So until federal laws change, it's beer, wine, rum and cigars aboard Kanaloa.

With regard to divers and pot; some of the best free divers i know are total potheads. We're talking guys with 2+ minute breath holds. I'm not saying they are the sharpest tools in the shed, just that they go deep and kill lots of big fish.
 
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