7, they were driving 7 miles an hour!

Beginning in January 2023, Massachusetts will be the first recreational cannabis state in the US to implement a program to educate teenagers about cannabis-impaired driving. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that cannabis impairment courses will be added to driver training programs.

The Motor Vehicle Registry, which claims to regulate driver education in the state, announced Monday that it is adopting the AAA curriculum. The curriculum is titled Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth About Marijuana and Driving and is a collaborative effort between the Motor Vehicle Registry and members of the Cannabis Control Commission.

What’s in the curriculum?

The American Automobile Association has developed a new program, Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth about Marijuana and Driving. According to officials, the curriculum is taught to about 50,000 new drivers annually at about 700 driving schools across the state.

To obtain a full, unrestricted driver’s license in Massachusetts, all learner drivers under the age of 18 must complete 30 hours of classroom training.

According to officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the current driver education program, which addresses impaired driving, will be revised. The new program will include research-based information on cannabis that describes how tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, affects cognition, reaction time, vision, and perception of time and distance.

According to MassDOT, a presentation to market the new program to the Worcester Register of Motor Vehicles will be held by RMV, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and AAA on Friday, according to MassDOT.

Why is the curriculum important?

According to a 2022 survey, more than 40% of US drivers who use marijuana and alcohol admitted to driving under the influence of either or both substances.

Researchers analyzed data from 34,514 drivers aged 16 and over who confirmed alcohol and cannabis use over the past year. They took part in the National Drug Use and Health Survey between 2016 and 2019.

While more than 50% of respondents said they had never driven under the influence of alcohol, 42% admitted to driving under the influence.

The study also found that drivers who used both substances were about three times more likely to only drive while intoxicated with marijuana. And they’re more than 3.5 times more likely to drive while high on alcohol and cannabis. Previous research has found that cannabis and alcohol can impair motor coordination and cognitive function. This makes it unsafe to drive under the influence of alcohol, especially for younger drivers with far less experience.

“Cannabis and alcohol are two of the most commonly abused substances involved in auto accidents and driver disturbances in the United States,” said Priscila Dib Gonçalves, study author and researcher at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, in a statement.

Legalization of cannabis in Massachusetts

Both medicinal and recreational use of marijuana is legal in Massachusetts. The legalization of cannabis in Massachusetts has a lot to do with the cultural events underlying cannabis use. Massachusetts voters were able to legalize recreational cannabis in 2016, a century after it was criminalized in the state. Before that, in 2008, Massachusetts voters were able to decriminalize possession of a small ounce of cannabis.

Although federal authorities still classify cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic with no recognized medical use, Massachusetts became the 18th state to legalize medicinal cannabis when voters approved a 2012 ballot proposal. Recreational marijuana became legal in Massachusetts on December 15, 2016, following a voter action in November of this year.

decriminalization

On November 4, 2008, Massachusetts voters approved a voting measure that would decriminalize the use and possession of small ounces of cannabis. Under the Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative, anyone caught in possession of less than an ounce (28g) of marijuana is fined $100 with no criminal record. In addition, minors were required to notify their parents, attend a drug education program, and complete 10 hours of community service. Before decriminalization, anyone found guilty could serve at least six months in prison and be fined $500.

Medical marijuana

The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 3, was approved on November 6, 2012 by 63% of state voters. As of January 1, 2013, patients with a state-issued registration card are no longer subject to criminal or civil penalties for using or possessing cannabis for up to 2 months. Patients with glaucoma, cancer, and other diseases can obtain a registration card with a prescription from a doctor. The law allows a maximum of 35 state-licensed non-profit pharmacies.

Recreational Cannabis

Massachusetts voters approved a voting measure, Question 4, on November 8, 2016, legalizing recreational cannabis in the state. On December 15, 2016, guidelines for domestic use and cultivation were put in place.

Individuals may purchase or possess a maximum of one ounce (28g) at a time. It must be locked and not visible while driving. Each household can grow a maximum of six plants, or twelve if two or more adults live there. However, the plants cannot be seen from the street. When made from home harvest, households can store a maximum of ten ounces (280g).

Cannabis growers can apply for different types of licenses with the additional restriction that they can only sell to cannabis businesses like dispensaries and not directly to consumers. Both smoking marijuana while driving and smoking in public areas such as parks and sidewalks is prohibited. Selling marijuana without a license is not permitted for either the seller or the customer; However, gifting home-grown marijuana is legal.

Conclusion

In 2010, over 10% of Massachusetts residents age 12 and older reported using marijuana in the previous month, and nearly 16% said they did so in the past year. Due to the legalization of cannabis in Massachusetts, the percentage has increased dramatically. There are concerns about increased DUIs in the state. Therefore, drivers must be educated about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol.

This will be the first generation of learner drivers to be accredited since marijuana was legalized in Massachusetts. AAA data shows that drink driving accidents are increasing and continue to injure and kill drivers and passengers.

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