Why You Should Avoid Driving After Smoking Marijuana

Why You Should Avoid Driving After Smoking Marijuana

Man holding jointWhether you smoke marijuana or prefer to ingest it in some form of edible, the number one concern at all times is to maintain your own safety and the safety of others. This obviously goes for those who use marijuana for medical reasons or enjoy it recreationally.

You’d think that driving after smoking or ingesting marijuana would be an automatic no-no, but the truth is that people do it more often than you probably realize, and because more people are using marijuana than ever before (at least legally), it’s an important subject to address.

Mintz Law Firm wants everyone to be safe on 4/20 (this Friday), and that means staying within the limits of the law, so here are a few reasons why you should avoid driving under the influence of marijuana:

Marijuana Impairs Your Driving

This should come as no shock to anyone who’s ever smoked or ingested marijuana. When marijuana gets into your system, pretty much everything is going to be a little slower than normal. This is fine when you’re hanging out with your friends, eating chips, and watching The Wizard of Oz paired with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. But, when it comes to driving, you’re just asking for a bad trip (pun intended) by getting out on the road. You will experience slower reaction time, impaired judgment, less coordination, concentration issues, and possibly even drowsiness. No matter how much you think you’re in control of your faculties, the truth is that even a small amount of marijuana can negatively impact all these things and make it harder to drive safely.

Being High Counts as Being “Under the Influence”

Many marijuana users have fought for legalization by arguing that alcohol is a lot more dangerous and harmful than lighting up a joint or eating a pot brownie. While that may be true in some regards, law enforcement doesn’t see it that way when it comes to driving – and that’s how it should be. Due to the impairment that marijuana causes, being under the influence of marijuana is no different than being under the influence of alcohol. You can still get pulled over, tested, and arrested if you smoke/eat and drive. This can cause you several months of inconvenience, monetary losses, and maybe even the loss of your license. This is just one more reason why you should never get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.

It’s Counter-Intuitive to the Essence of Marijuana

We obviously don’t want to make light of such a serious issue as driving under the influence of marijuana, but let’s be honest here – many people use marijuana to relax. You treat yourself now and then so that you can hang out with your friends and have a relaxing, enjoyable time – to forget about all the pressures of the outside world, if only for a brief amount of time. The primary goal is to be “mellow,” “chill,” or however else you want to label it. So, if you want to live up to the expectations of marijuana users around the globe, stay right where you are and enjoy the bliss. Just make sure that you have plenty of snacks before you start hanging out, because it’s not safe to hit the road after indulging.

Marijuana usage can be enjoyed within the limits of the law, but not everyone acts responsibly when it comes to driving after using. If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance after being injured by someone driving under the influence of marijuana, the team at Mintz Law Firm is ready to help. Reach out to us today for a free case evaluation.

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