New Study Finds That Legal States Have Lower Rates of Cannabis-Impaired Driving
by Chane Leigh
Medical cannabis has been legal in the state of Rhode Island since 2006. Now, recreational cannabis will be legal too! Once Gov. Dan McKee signs the recreational cannabis bill, Rhode Island will become the 19th state in America to legalize adult-use cannabis.
According to House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin Abney, it took several months of what was considered intense negotiation along with the collaboration of stakeholders to make it happen. Mr. Abney was quoted telling the media, “This Bill represents a solid foundation for the regulation of the cannabis industry within our state. This is a good, strong, fair, and equitable bill.”
Only five Republicans and 11 Democrats in the House were against legalizing recreational cannabis in Rhode Island, with a vote of 55-16 supporting the bill. The Rhode Island state Senate saw even less opposition, with only five Republicans and three Democrats opposing the bill. It passed the Senate 32-6.
Those opposed to recreational cannabis legalization cited concerns such as increased access by children and impacts on the defense industry. Leaders throughout the Rhode Island law enforcement community suggested that they would have a hard time dealing with the widespread usage of cannabis and preventing consumers from driving under the influence.
State Rep. Leonela Felix (D-Pawtucket) wasn’t having it, though. She said, “We will figure it out when it comes to driving under the influence of cannabis, just like we figured out alcohol.” Concerns about the defense industry stem from it being Rhode island’s highest-paying civilian wage sector. It’s estimated that the annual civilian wage in the defense industry sector is around $111,000 a year. It’s likely that the impact of cannabis on this industry will be minimal, however, considering that federally controlled employees would still be subject to drug testing.
The issue of driving while under the influence of cannabis is a controversial one. Recent research has revealed that THC does impact driving ability, but preventing cannabis DUIs is not easy. Unlike other substances, cannabis stays in your system for anywhere from two weeks to a month or more depending on the detection method. This makes it extremely difficult to determine if someone is currently intoxicated by THC to the point of being unable to drive.
There are also varying levels of intoxication; long-time consumers have a much higher tolerance than someone who is new to cannabis and may not be as affected by having it in their system. Cannabis is also medicinal, and many medical users depend on it daily. Traditional methods of intoxication used for detecting alcohol, like breathalyzers, have been eliminated as options for cannabis testing, and experts are currently trying to develop a more accurate means of identifying cannabis intoxication.
Despite some of the final attempts by various lawmakers to oppose legalization, recreational cannabis is slated to be legalized with the governor’s signature and will become effective immediately. This will allow residents 21 and older in the state of Rhode Island to possess cannabis and grow it at home. Recreational cannabis sales are set to kick-off for the holiday season in December.
The Cannabis Control Commission will be responsible for regulating and overseeing the industry. The legislation allows a maximum of 33 cannabis retail stores in the state. Additionally, the passage of the recreational cannabis bill will automatically expunge tens of thousands of cannabis possession charges (this excludes possession charges combined with other crimes). Currently, it is estimated that Rhode Island has 27,000 possession charges going all the way back to the 1970s.
Sales tax for Rhode Island’s recreational cannabis will be a whopping 20%, including a 10% cannabis tax, a 3% city or town tax, and a 7% sales tax. As with many places that have recreational cannabis, it may be legal, but it is not legal everywhere. Landlords, cities, and towns have the right to prohibit vaping or smoking cannabis.
Smoking cigarettes can impact one’s oral health by putting them at a higher risk of developing the likes of cancer, gum problems, tooth decay, and complications after oral surgery, according to the Better Health Channel. Does smoking cannabis pose the same risks? Unfortunately, it seems that oral health is put at risk regardless of what…
Cannabis is being increasingly chosen as an alternative to pharmaceutical medication, specifically those like opioids that are intended to reduce pain. Cannabis has been shown to effectively block pain, and recent research confirms that it reduces the need for opiate pain killers among cancer patients. These patients arguably have the most to gain from cannabis,…
Have you ever experienced that dreaded “cotton mouth” after smoking a joint? If so, you are not alone. Cannabis, depending on the chosen strain, may reduce saliva gland production. Because of this, the body produces less saliva and the mouth becomes drier than the Sahara Desert! But does this mean that cannabis dehydrates you? This…
Cannabis prohibition started back in the early 1900s in America. States in the east were among the first in the nation to support prohibition. Lawmakers of the time limited public access to cannabis for strictly medical use back in 1914. By 1927—a decade before cannabis was outlawed federally—the state of New York had outlawed cannabis…
Some folks absolutely love moon rocks and others want nothing to do with them. I’m not talking about rocks from our moon—I’m talking about cannabis moon rocks. These mega-balls of THC have started trending in recent years, but many members of the cannabis community still don’t know what they are or what they’re designed for….
Psychedelic therapy and microdosing in particular have been gaining attention around the world in recent years. But have you ever heard of…
CBD’s growing legality across the U.S. and beyond has contributed to a swelling range of products. With the continued growth of the…
Question: Father’s Day is coming up, and I want to surprise my dad with some sort of cannabis gift! He hasn’t had…