Tuesday, November 27, 2012

1873 Pot Test

Governor Christine Gregoire requested advice from the federal justice department about how to proceed with the state's new legal marijuana law. Voters have given the okay, but the state's not anxious to invest tons of infrastructure set-up money to actually sell weed until it looks like those stores may stay open.
But since, like liquor, it will probably end up in private hands anyhow, maybe the state should just write regulations for distribution and sale and save its money from the outset. The regulations are already there for the most part. Just white-out "alcohol" and scribble in "pot."
There have been good things about it. I have a friend who has a sister in another state who's lesbian. That sister is currently dating a woman named Juanita and is looking to marry her. They also, coincidently, like to toke an occasional burst of bud. So the last election made Washington living very attractive. Now she can smoke marijuana and marry Juanita all in the same place.
But big problems remain. Among them driving-while-intoxicated measurements. Piloting your vehicle under the influence of alcohol is pretty easy to measure. You just blow your breath into a device. Marijuana intoxication will require a blood test. Tough to administer in the field. Will law enforcement officers have to be phlebotomists too?
Also, THC blood levels remain for days after actual inhalation. Who's to say the erratic guy wasn't stoned three days ago and is just a bad driver today? Perhaps other behavior tests will be needed. Instead of walking the line, police could look for an acute episode of dancing inappropriately.
Or use a smell test. See how the suspect falls on the spectrum of the Dorito Olfactory Over-Bonding Indicator Evaluation.
The D-O-O-B-I-E-. The Doobie.
America, ya gotta love it.

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