Heard on the radio that the MA and CO decisions could impact the drug cartels by as much as $1B.

Man I missed a good thread! But yes Jim I do have special training to tell you what drugs are psychoactive in a person. Obviously it's best to look at the totality of the circumstances, IE coordination, smells, speech (rapid, slow, low raspy). As well as the things that no one who's under the influence of drugs, including prescriptions, can control. Such as pulse, blood pressure, pupil size, reaction to light, reddening of the conjuctiva, etc. Obviously the psychophysical tests help show internal clocks and balance.

Man I missed a good thread! But yes Jim I do have special training to tell you what drugs are psychoactive in a person. Obviously it's best to look at the totality of the circumstances, IE coordination, smells, speech (rapid, slow, low raspy). As well as the things that no one who's under the influence of drugs, including prescriptions, can control. Such as pulse, blood pressure, pupil size, reaction to light, reddening of the conjuctiva, etc. Obviously the psychophysical tests help show internal clocks and balance.

 

But your sure it's not magic?

It might be

I've got mixed feelings on this one.

 

The kid in me would like to see it legalized so I could smoke the stuff :lol:

 

The adult in me sees it as a drug that leads to more drug use. I know half the reason I smoked in my younger years was because it was illegal. It was a thrill. I worry if it's legalized that a harder drug such as coke or pills becomes the next generations weed.

 

I'd be for legalization if the punishment for other drug use was more harsh.

I fully lean towards legalization.

 

My only concern is regarding how police determine how to determine if one is impaired while driving.

 

A friend of mine who is a retired police officer has said that for years. To my knowledge there's no test (like a breathalizer) that police can administer and know immediately. He always said it wouldn't be legalized until there was some type of test like that.

Count me as one of those who does not believe that pot is a gateway drug. I think that some people have addictive personalities that drive them to try other things and some don't. Now, I smoked my share of pot when I was in high school and I was never, not once, tempted to try any other drugs. My ex-husband, however, is one of those addictive personalities that would drink cough syrup if he thought he could get a buzz from it.

For the record, I am for legalization. Slap a tax on it, set an age limit, drive down some of our debt, free up some space in our jails and free up the courts and law enforcement's time to deal with more serious issues.

Man I missed a good thread! But yes Jim I do have special training to tell you what drugs are psychoactive in a person. Obviously it's best to look at the totality of the circumstances, IE coordination, smells, speech (rapid, slow, low raspy). As well as the things that no one who's under the influence of drugs, including prescriptions, can control. Such as pulse, blood pressure, pupil size, reaction to light, reddening of the conjuctiva, etc. Obviously the psychophysical tests help show internal clocks and balance.

 

Thanks. My question to you, and what I hadn't quite gotten around to sending HB20 in response to his PM, is this:

 

If a person has shown no observable outward signs of being high, do you even go to that next step? I am familiar with a lot of what you and HB20 mentioned, but not all of it. Seems like the stuff you mention is what police would use to confirm the suspicion they might have gotten because of observing behavior.

 

Coordination is an observable behavior, but that person may just be clumsy by nature. Smell obviously is a dead giveaway, but that can be covered. Speech could just as easily be explained away by any number of things (allergies, exhaustion, medical condition, etc.). A person might already have high blood pressure, so I don't see how that can be relied on. Pulse rate seems like it would go up naturally with just about anyone being pulled over -- nervousness is a natural reaction to such a confrontation. Red eyes can be caused by lack of sleep, irritated contact lenses, etc., and can be made to go away with eye drops.

Possibly the A-Number-1 reason pot is illegal is because of the lobbying efforts by the corrections industry, most notably, companies such as Corrections Corporation of America. Those guys donate a ton of money to help make sure the "War on Drugs" continues indefinitely. Another example of our government acting in the best interest of a select few with incredible means at their disposal instead of the overwhelming majority.

Possibly the A-Number-1 reason pot is illegal is because of the lobbying efforts by the corrections industry, most notably, companies such as Corrections Corporation of America. Those guys donate a ton of money to help make sure the "War on Drugs" continues indefinitely. Another example of our government acting in the best interest of a select few with incredible means at their disposal instead of the overwhelming majority.

Since the war on drug began, the US has spent about 1.5 trillion on it! The Fed's spend over $500 per second on the war on drugs for a total of over 15 billion per year, and the states add another 25 billion per year. Legalizing it would not only generate money, but would save tax payers billions per year.

Possibly the A-Number-1 reason pot is illegal is because of the lobbying efforts by the corrections industry, most notably, companies such as Corrections Corporation of America. Those guys donate a ton of money to help make sure the "War on Drugs" continues indefinitely. Another example of our government acting in the best interest of a select few with incredible means at their disposal instead of the overwhelming majority.

Don't forget that the alcohol companies in this country are donating to keep it illegal. Would be direct competition for them.

 

Thanks. My question to you, and what I hadn't quite gotten around to sending HB20 in response to his PM, is this:

 

If a person has shown no observable outward signs of being high, do you even go to that next step? I am familiar with a lot of what you and HB20 mentioned, but not all of it. Seems like the stuff you mention is what police would use to confirm the suspicion they might have gotten because of observing behavior.

 

Coordination is an observable behavior, but that person may just be clumsy by nature. Smell obviously is a dead giveaway, but that can be covered. Speech could just as easily be explained away by any number of things (allergies, exhaustion, medical condition, etc.). A person might already have high blood pressure, so I don't see how that can be relied on. Pulse rate seems like it would go up naturally with just about anyone being pulled over -- nervousness is a natural reaction to such a confrontation. Red eyes can be caused by lack of sleep, irritated contact lenses, etc., and can be made to go away with eye drops.

 

It's the totality of the circumstances. Poor driving is your PC for the stop. Now you got red eyes, maybe some odor, poor coordination, unable to do simple tasks like reciting alphabet from say E to Q, or unable to count backwards, and say green film on the tongue. Any of these things alone can be explained but you get all or most of those, now you got grounds for an impaired driving charge. Don't need a BA for pot, just a blood test to confirm.

 

Thanks. My question to you, and what I hadn't quite gotten around to sending HB20 in response to his PM, is this:

 

If a person has shown no observable outward signs of being high, do you even go to that next step? I am familiar with a lot of what you and HB20 mentioned, but not all of it. Seems like the stuff you mention is what police would use to confirm the suspicion they might have gotten because of observing behavior.

 

Coordination is an observable behavior, but that person may just be clumsy by nature. Smell obviously is a dead giveaway, but that can be covered. Speech could just as easily be explained away by any number of things (allergies, exhaustion, medical condition, etc.). A person might already have high blood pressure, so I don't see how that can be relied on. Pulse rate seems like it would go up naturally with just about anyone being pulled over -- nervousness is a natural reaction to such a confrontation. Red eyes can be caused by lack of sleep, irritated contact lenses, etc., and can be made to go away with eye drops.

 

Oh, and no. Just cause someone smoked pit 4 hrs before the stop doesn't mean they are impaired, thus they aren't arrested for DUI

It's the totality of the circumstances. Poor driving is your PC for the stop. Now you got red eyes, maybe some odor, poor coordination, unable to do simple tasks like reciting alphabet from say E to Q, or unable to count backwards, and say green film on the tongue. Any of these things alone can be explained but you get all or most of those, now you got grounds for an impaired driving charge. Don't need a BA for pot, just a blood test to confirm.

This is kind of what I'm saying. I don't see how it would need to be any different than it is now.

Oh, and no. Just cause someone smoked pit 4 hrs before the stop doesn't mean they are impaired, thus they aren't arrested for DUI

 

Exactly, thank you. That was my whole point, and what HB20 didn't seem to want to comprehend. Unless the behavior tips you to take that next step, there's no need to go into the hardcore stuff like he and you mentioned, as it would be a waste of your time most of the time.