Woman sues DMV to get license back; it was revoked because she uses medical marijuana

[Oeditpus Rex]

Rose Johnson uses marijuana at night to help her sleep because she has back and neck injuries that began after she was rear-ended in 1990, according to the civil complaint.

She does not drive while under the influence of the drug, said her Oakland-based attorney, Joseph D. Elford, with Americans for Safe Access.

"You don't take away (someone's) license because they take Vicodin," he explained Wednesday. "If that's the DMV's position, every prescription drug user's license could be taken away."

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/556562.html

[LostinVA]

1. Stupid AND dangerous precedent

[RedCappedBandit]

2. Let's take away

licenses from alcoholics too. Oh wait, then we'd have about twenty people on the road in the entire country..

Hey, maybe there's something to this idea.

[YOY]

3. Are there really a number of accidents caused by marijuana?

I mean actually caused by marijuana...not alchohol and marijuana.

I have driven stoned to all hell before and if anything I was extra cautious.

[NorCalDem]

5. This, there was a study conducted several years ago...

(I don't have a link for it unfortunately) in which they showed EXACTLY what you just said. Drivers under the influence of marijuana, although slightly slower in reaction time, compensated for it by driving more cautiously, and as such performed as well as sober drivers.

Whenever someone tells you the stats that 25% of all traffic accidents that result in death show marijuana in the bloodstream (or some other stupid "fact" that the drug free adds used to show) just ask the person how many of those 25% also tested positive for alcohol, and also since MJ lasts in the bloodstream for up to 30 days, are they sure the driver was actively stoned while driving...

[YOY]

8. Marijuana is harmless and they f***ing know it.

It's just the "war on drugs" waste of time and money that they're trying to prop up.

[NorCalDem]

9. well that and the Pharmaceutical lobby...

Marijuana can be used to treat headaches, muscle pain, nausea, increases hunger (important in cancer patients). It's good for glaucoma, blood pressure, and a whole host of other diseases from serious illness to minor pain/discomfort. It's a weed, and can easily be grown in your house, backyard, or garden for minimal cost. Therefore, how on earth could Merck, roche, genentech, etc make obscene amounts of money selling synthetic knockoffs and derivatives to customers?!? How would Solvay Pharmaceuticals make a killing off 'Marinol', which is literally synthetic THC given to cancer patients, if people could simply grow marijuana?!

[guitar man]

4. I have a close friend

He was an EMT on an ambulance for 20 years. He told me in that time that he could not begin to count the number of accidents where they literally scraped up the carnage off the roadways from drunk driving accidents, but not once in 20 years, could he recall responding to an accident scene where the cause was determined to be driving under the influence of pot.

[NorCalDem]

6. Agreed, pot is only dangerous

to grocery store workers who get between stoners and the snack aisle...

[guitar man]

7. LOL

no kidding, I almost lost a hand over a bag of Fritos when I worked in a grocery store! :rofl: