cannabisnews.com: Lawmakers Want Drivers Off The HIGH Way





Lawmakers Want Drivers Off The HIGH Way
Posted by FoM on February 05, 2000 at 22:22:00 PT
By Treena Shapiro, Star-Bulletin
Source: Star-Bulletin
Frog lickers, glue sniffers and kava drinkers beware -- especially if you drive. Such intoxicants technically aren't illegal drugs. That's made it difficult to prosecute someone of driving under the influence of those substances. But law enforcement officials are trying to close that loophole.Last year, prosecutors were able to convict 32 drugged drivers (50 percent used marijuana), up from 10 in 1998. 
But Deputy Prosecutor David Sandler estimates 20 to 25 percent of drivers suspected of drug intoxication escape conviction."Let's say someone takes kava and they're weaving all over the road. That's not on the list. We can't hold them responsible," Sandler explained. "In the majority of states if you're driving under (the influence of) any substance that messes up your mind, you're guilty."At 8:30 a.m. Monday in Room 309 of the state Capitol, the House Transportation Committee will hear House Bill 2692 to change the definition of drug to any substance that impairs a person's ability to drive. The bill would also allow police to decide what kind of test to give a driver suspected of drug or alcohol intoxication and allow a suspect's refusal to take the test admissible evidence in court.http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/HB2692_.htmA companion bill in the Senate (Bill 2640) hasn't been scheduled for hearing, due to concerns that the law is unconstitutional, said Transportation Chairman Cal Kawamoto.http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/SB2640_.htm"Currently (the law) allows you to opt out of the test," Kawamoto said. But mandatory testing could violate a person's right to privacy.Kawamoto (D, Waipahu, Pearl City) also questioned extending the definition of drug. "It could be anything, so we consider it too broad," Kawamoto said. "I think what we need to do is keep the designation that we have and we need to enforce the laws better."Other bills being heard in the House Transportation Committee on Monday would make drugged drivers subject to the same penalties as drunken drivers and set maximum prison sentences for drugged drivers. Right now, there are no maximum penalties. Senate Bill 2630 proposes that first-time offenders serve 14 hours in a drug rehabilitation program, 90-day prompt suspension of the driver's license and 72 hours of community service, and two to five days' incarceration or a fine of between $150 and $1,000.An argument that has hampered drugged driving prosecution is that drugs often remain in a person's blood or urine after the intoxicating effects have worn off. For that reason, prosecution relies on the observations of the arresting officer, as well as assessment by a specially trained drug recognition expert.Clifford Wong is a toxicologist at Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii, which does all the drug screening of samples from allegedly impaired drivers. He said that of 67 samples sent last year by the police departments, 59 were positive for at least one drug.That indicates a 88 percent rate of successful assessment by drug recognition experts. "Considering these guys aren't medically trained ... it's remarkable," Wong said.Published February 5, 2000© 2000 Honolulu Star-BulletinRelated Articles:Kava - The Drug Of Choice In The Pacifichttp://www.mauigateway.com/~kava/Kick Back With Kava.comhttp://www.kickbackwithkava.com/Kava_Farm.htm Lawyer Creates Controversy With Guide For DWI Stop http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread2532.shtmlCannabis News Drug Testing Articles:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/drug_testing.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 17, 2003 at 17:37:42 PT
afterburner
We just finished watching the video. It was excellent! It gives me hope! Thank You!
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Comment #4 posted by afterburner on July 17, 2003 at 16:38:12 PT:
God bless the UK
Cannabinoid consciousness 31 Aug, 2001 
UK researcher studies the science of being stoned. 
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1530.htmlA good review of cannabinoids, receptors, antagonists, and anti-antagonists."If people let government decide which foods they eat and medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny."
- Thomas Jefferson - ego transcendence follows ego destruction, why is it built into the brain and nervous system?
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Comment #3 posted by afterburner on July 17, 2003 at 07:07:59 PT:
FoM - This One Made Me Think of You
Freedom to Alter Our Consciousness Is A Charter Right http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-2069.html
Miscellaneous with Pot-TV http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2069.ram 
Running Time: 14 min 
Date Entered: 16 Jul 2003 
Viewer Rating: 6.66 (2 votes) 
 
Number of Views: 111 
 
Fanny Kiefer talks to Vancouver based Lawyer David Aarron about his potential Charter Argument that Charter Rights that Guarantee Freedom of Thought, should also apply to Freedom to alter one's Own Consciousness. ego transcendence is a Charter Right, which challenges ego destruction as the ruling mentality of the prohibitionists.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 06, 2000 at 21:48:19 PT
You're Red Now! Cool!
You look good in red! I feel better now that you've registered. I even have registered at sites I've never posted at. I just don't want anyone to assume my three little initials or I won't have Freedom of Mind!Good comment and that would solve the problem. Everyone could afford a cab!Peace, FoM!
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on February 06, 2000 at 14:39:57 PT
Truly, a 'public safety' issue
As you might gather from my posts, I am always very leary when someone - particularly someone in an 'authority' position - is advocating anything that restricts personal freedoms. But these guys have a point.Dodging red-light running, cell-phone using idiot drivers is hard enough. But if you take your chemically-induced impairment onto the open road and endanger the lives of your fellow citizens, you have no excuse. None. If you can afford to buy cannabis at today's prices, you can certainly afford a cab.
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