MAINE, USA — April 20, also known as 4/20, has become associated with smoking cannabis, and in recent years law enforcement has noticed an uptick in motorists driving high.
This year, the "weed holiday" falls on a Saturday, promising an increased number of impaired drivers on the road, according to a Thursday press release from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (BHS).
“While celebrating with friends and family, remember to look out for each other. If you feel different, you drive different, so plan for a sober ride home,” Lauren Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, said.
According to the BHS, since 2020, cannabinoids have been the most frequently detected drug, other than alcohol, found in samples from OUI investigations conducted in Maine.
"A review of all OUI/DUID blood samples that were tested in 2023 for the presence of drugs other than alcohol found that 44% of them were positive for cannabinoids," the release stated.
"If you think driving while high from cannabis won’t affect you, then you are wrong. It has been proven that cannabis can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their own lane. So, if you choose to use this 4/20, please plan and have a sober driver," the release stated.
Safe driving tips for 4/20 from BHS:
- Even if the drug (including alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs) is legally obtained, impaired driving poses a threat to everyone on the road.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and arrange to get them home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — they’ll thank you later. And you might just save a life.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact your local law enforcement agency. Such agencies have specially trained officers to detect impairment by any substance (alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs).
