By Ngaio Bealum
I really enjoy reading your. I’m a truck driver and I live down south. Anyways, I really enjoy smoking marijuana. I used to when I was younger, but ever since I started truck driving I’m scared to even take a puff. I know the laws against truck drivers and marijuana are very strict and I could lose my license, but I believe I could get my medical card, seeing as I have this really bad leg pain; it’s my nerves and they told me I need an MRI. But would my medical marijuana card interfere with my right to keep on trucking? Or would I lose my license?
Kevin
Hi Kevin, thanks for your support. You could very well lose your license. California law has no protections for medical cannabis users. And don’t think you can sue. The California Supreme Court confirmed employer’s rights to fire mmj users in the case Ross vs. Ragingwire. Sorry, buddy.
One of the problems that employers and law enforcement agencies have with marijuana is that THC stays in the body even after it has stopped being psychoactive, making it difficult to run tests to determine if someone is impaired. If you are a regular cannabis user, you could have THC in your system even if you haven’t smoked for a few days. It took a friend of mine a month and a half of not smoking weed for her to finally test negative for pot.
Washington State’s new cannabis legalization law contains a “per se DUI” provision. If a person has more than 5 nanograms of weed in his or her system, he or she is automatically guilty of a DUI. I’m not sure how enforceable that provision will be. Arizona has a similar law on the books, but the AZ Supreme Court has recently ruled that a person cannot be charged with DUI for simply having THC in the body; the person must show signs of impairment. So we will see how Washington handles any cases that may appear.
Let’s keep talking about the rights of medical cannabis users. Did you know that medical cannabis users are routinely denied placement on organ transplant lists? Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense to me either. However, the good folks at ASA (Americans for Safe Access) are working to get the Medical Marijuana Organ Transplant Act signed into law, but they are having a hard time getting traction. Do me a favor and head over to this site and show your support.
When can I start buying recreational weed in Washington?
Spokane Sam
Soon. The WA Liquor Control Board has finally published a list of businesses allowed to begin the final approval phases of opening a retail establishment. 334 places will open all over the state. Look for shops by late summer. Woo hoo!
What are you smoking?
Kron S. Ewer
Right now I am on what could be my favorite hybrid of all time, Blue Dream.
Send questions to the bud man at ngaio420@yahoo.com
