As state lawmakers consider legalizing marijuana for recreational adult use, some Delawareans are thinking about the implications for impaired driving in the First State. “There is the potential for legalizing marijuana to make the roads less safe for a couple reasons,” said Tammy Anderson, a University of Delaware sociology professor focused on alcohol, drugs and crime. “There is an emergent problem developing called drugged driving. In some respects, drugged driving is approaching rates of drunk driving,” Ms. Anderson said. “We sort of have an awareness right now of drunk driving. There’s been this development of an ethic that I should not drive after I’ve been drinking.” She said fewer people have developed that same sensibility when it comes to driving after smoking weed.. Ms. Anderson said alcohol, a depressant, impacts people in a very different way from marijuana that it’s hard for experts to classify marijuana in the same way as other drugs like heroin or cocaine. While those are straightforward narcotics and stimulants, respectively, marijuana straddles several categories. “It has both sedative and dissociative qualities to it,” the professor said. “Technically, it’s classified as a mild hallucinogen, but it, of course, has sedative qualities to it. That’s what makes it a hybrid in terms of its effects on the brain.”
- Delaware wasted time and did not legalize weed, while others did. Guess what? If we want to buy it, we will go to other states, buy it there or continue to buy it illegally, so this state doesn’t make money. — Kevin Maloney
- Driving high has been going on for decades, and no one has noticed. This is a nonissue. — Craig Walter
- As if these people getting their sixth, seventh, eighth DUIs aren’t. There is no difference. It’s time it is legalized. — Bobbi Costello
- I don’t so much think that the political profiteers aren’t worried about what it will cause but how much it will not cause and/or reduce. There have to be laws to protect pockets, right? — Boyd Chaney
- These people profiting off the drug war are really getting desperate, and it’s insulting to the intelligence of Delawareans. Some Delawareans using marijuana may not tie their shoes correctly; therefore, we are going to raise your property taxes instead. — Doug Ware
- They will do both. — Beth Gallagher
- Do you think? You better believe DUIs will increase. Liberal no-brainers. — Lacey Lafferty
- They will substitute pot for alcohol. Alcohol is more dangerous. — Gray Goodman
- Still be accidents and violations. People will not obey the law and keep on driving under the influence of something. — Lacey Lafferty
- Not really. The people that have the sense to not drive impaired will still not drive impaired. Those that are stupid will remain so. That’s not something that’s going to change. — Daniel Webber
