Anchorage police prepare for their first 4/20 since legalization

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.adn.com/article/20150417/special-anchorage-police-unit-will-target-drivers-impaired-marijuana-weekend

Anchorage police said Friday they will target drivers high on marijuana through the weekend and Monday in anticipation of the unofficial stoners holiday “420."

“With the recent legalization of recreational use of marijuana in the state of Alaska, police anticipate a possible increase of impaired drivers that may be celebrating the ‘420 holiday’ this year,” said Anchorage Police Department communications director Jennifer Castro in a news release.

<snip>

“Although recreational use of marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older, it is illegal to drive impaired under the influence of marijuana and to use marijuana in a public place. Please celebrate safely -- we appreciate your help in keeping our streets safe!” the police statement says.

The police department also produced the video PSA “Drive High -- Get An OUI,” which shows a trio of friends preparing for the “epic” holiday by shopping for junk food.

<snip>

The video is pretty silly, but at least the APD seems to have a sense of humor.


https://m.

[Warpy]

1. Funny stuff, but the OUI laws in Alaska are pretty strict

and multiple offenders get license suspensions from 5 years to life.

I've known more than one person who left the state because there was no way to cope with a 10+ year suspension up there. They can't just hop on bicycles for much of the year.

"Maybe we can just mix 'em together" I remember a few junk food shopping trips, myself.

[immoderate]

2. How do they determine impairment?

--imm

[krishnarama]

3. Meh. My local dispensary where I still hold my MMJ card

are basically giving me $10 for 1/8 or $25 quarters... I just might pick up a quarter.

I love my dispensary as they are a very small but terrific operation.

Shout out for Medicine Man Medical Market in Glendale.

Oh, and Denver Police's latest idea for impairment prevention - Fast Times in Ridgemont High-type fake smoke coming from cars...

I have to completely laugh at it.

They are also targeting the wrong demographics anyway.

[B Calm]

4. What are they going to pull them over for? Driving with both hands on the steering

wheel and doing the speed limit?

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Exactly.

I find the whole thing really amusing because pot has basically been decriminalized here since the Ravin decision in 1975, and statistically we have one of the highest per capita pot-smoking populations in the country, so I'm sure that smokers know how to behave on 4/20. They've been doing it for 40 years!

[AgingAmerican]

6. The police here in Seattle have backed way off

...on pot. They basically don't care about it anymore. If someone is smoking it in a park, they will most likely tell them to 'be discreet' about it.

Some of my neighbors work on cars in their driveway a lot. They are always passing around a blunt. The other day I saw them passing their blunt around while talking to a cop at the end of the driveway, laughing about something with him. It's surreal sometimes. The cops seem almost relieved that they don't have to deal with it anymore.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. I imagine that things will settle down here, too,

as more time passes and the sky doesn't fall. The legislature seems to be tying themselves in knots over the regulations, but we're getting there.

I've been growing my own for years, but it'll be nice when we have shops so I can get a little variety now and then for special occasions.

[AgingAmerican]

8. Yep

And over time street narcotic use tends to drop, because folks have something legal to get high on.