To: The Hawaii State House, The Hawaii State Senate, and Governor David Ige
Protection against Marijuana Abusers
Any laws that decriminalizes or allows the recreational use of Marijuana, must also include safeguards to insure that users and abusers are not allowed to use or operate any vehicles while under the influence of Marijuana.
The laws must state the standard of intoxication and impairment levels in the blood, proper testing procedures for the collection of evidence, and strict penalties for violating the law by operating vehicle while impaired. Where serious injury or death has occurred in an accident with a suspect abuser, blood collection must be mandatory.
Why is this important?
Currently there are bills in the Hawaii State Legislature proposing to decriminalize and make it easier to use Marijuana recreationally. Passing such a law would endanger the general public due to increased use and abuse of Marijuana. The potential for the increase of drivers under the influence of Marijuana causing accident with serious injuries or death is likely occur. Any bill or law passed to allow decriminalization of Marijuana must include strict penalties for those who abuse Marijuana to the point where their judgement and senses are impaired. Standards as to how to determine when a person is physically or judgementally impaired must be established, simular to that of Intoxicated driver by alcoholic beverages.
Before any laws are passed there should be clear and exact guidelines as to levels of THC in blood that would cause impairment, testing procedure and standards of evidence collection and strict penalties for those convicted of impairment.