Herbal Aromas During the Commute

[tzrider]

Since recreational weed became legal in CA, I've noticed an increase in the frequency with which I smell pot smoke in traffic. On my commute over the Dumbarton Bridge, I smell it more afternoons than not now. Anyone else notice this?

Not sure how I feel about it. The smokers' judgement, coordination and reaction times may be impaired, but they are probably also less inclined to road rage. Thoughts?

 

[dravnx]

I smell it during my 0630 commute. I don't want stoners driving.

 

[cal scott]

Yep, I would agree. It is disconcerting whenever I smell it knowing that a cager in my vicinity is not as focused as they should be :thumbdown.

 

[Karbon]

I'm vaugely ok with. The commute traffic conditions are such that it's mostly bumper to bumper. For the most part I reckon maintenance-high people have that aspect mostly sorted out.

In any case, I've commuted, worked and now live in Santa Cruz for close to 14 years. I smell pot coming out of cars litterally everyday.

 

[ETphoneshome]

I've noticed the uptick as well during the evening commute. I'm always splitting the carpool lane so I figure it's the passenger getting high.

 

[sckego]

In any case, I've commuted, worked and now live in Santa Cruz for close to 14 years. I smell pot coming out of cars litterally everyday.

Yeah, I can't say I've really noticed an increase in the past year. About the same as it was before (ie, daily).

 

[sjuels]

This is a topic that comes up a lot of work, especially among the bikers that commute from east bay to the city.
Apparently it is a thing; to bake and commute, because of the long wait at the toll plaza and on Hwy 80.
It is both the morning and evening commute, and I smell between 4 and 10 cars, where the goods are being smoked, every day.

I am not sure if I am over-profiling, but I believe that the drivers that I identify are even more distracted than the average driver.

As a data point, we did a Guinness Book of Record autonomous truck run in Colorado, and worked closely with the local authorities during the prep time for that, and was told that they saw a directly correlated increase in accidents (by 15%) with the release of weed.

I do not like riding Friday and Saturday night, because of drunk drivers, and I do not like this trend with baked drivers during commute hours.
It would be interesting to see if there is any data on accidents involving weed, as there is data on alcohol.

/Soren

 

[OldMadBrit]

I saw a huge increase in my commute home especially Hwy 24 from Oakland through the tunnel and on towards Walnut Creek. :thumbdown

Its a giant parking lot so people light up. Then they slow down, leave huge gaps - so traffic gets even slower, so more people light up...... :mad

Personally I hate it and wish we all had RPG launchers and the absolute right to take out distracted drivers and especially the clowns that leave 100yd gaps in front. arty :teeth arty

But that's just me an impatient SOB :teeth :gsxrgrl

 

[clutchslip]

My biggest concern with legalization was the following:
A. The inadequate rules and detection for driving under the influence of Miss Doobie.
B. People have no respect for the high. They will smoke anytime and anywhere. Not too many drinkers actually flask while driving to work.
C. Unlike drinking, you are sharing your high with others around you. I really don't want to get high unless I choose to get high.

It appears that my concerns are being realized. I hope we grow-up and behave rationally with this 'new' freedom to get stoopid.

 

[mean dad]

Learning curve gonna curve.

 

[Aware]

My biggest concern with legalization was the following:
A. The inadequate rules and detection for driving under the influence of Miss Doobie.
B. People have no respect for the high. They will smoke anytime and anywhere. Not too many drinkers actually flask while driving to work.
C. Unlike drinking, you are sharing your high with others around you. I really don't want to get high unless I choose to get high.

It appears that my concerns are being realized. I hope we grow-up and behave rationally with this 'new' freedom to get stoopid.

I definitely noticed an uptick around San Jose (101, 808, 680, 280) at the start of the year, but I was smelling the blow daily before too.

I'm not sure how you can be certain that drivers are not guzzling gas as well as booze. There are a lot of alcohol-dependents out there and a lot with aspirations to become dependent ...

 

[TerryM]

I've noticed an increase, but not sure it's from legalization or that my commute changed from Marin/SF to Santa Cruz/SF. Probably not as bad as phone distraction. Then there's toking while phone/texting.

 

[afm199]

Everywhere. People lighting up like it was the sixties.

 

[Junkie]

My biggest concern with legalization was the following:
A. The inadequate rules and detection for driving under the influence of Miss Doobie.
B. People have no respect for the high. They will smoke anytime and anywhere. Not too many drinkers actually flask while driving to work.
C. Unlike drinking, you are sharing your high with others around you. I really don't want to get high unless I choose to get high.

It appears that my concerns are being realized. I hope we grow-up and behave rationally with this 'new' freedom to get stoopid.

It takes an outrageous amount of secondhand smoke to get you high. It isn't something to worry about.

 

[clutchslip]

It takes an outrageous amount of secondhand smoke to get you high. It isn't something to worry about.

Dude. I get contact highs from acid.

Then how can cigarette smoke cause cancer so easily that it is banned from virtually everywhere? Seems contradictory to me. Can both these things be correct?

EDIT: I had "band" as in "THE Band", instead of banned. Too high.

 

[Rebus]

"the 880" thru Oakland should be renamed "the 420"

 

[sasquatch]

The 9 years I spent commuting back to Santa Cruz on 17, I was often caught in a cloud of smoke coming out of the driver's window of the car that contained a "herbal" smell.
I always thought they were doing it on purpose.

 

[Bzwrthy]

When I moved to Colorado I was surprised at how little herb I smelled out here compared to living and commuting in Oakland. I had assumed it would be worse since it was actually legal. Vaping and edibles are the thing - there may be no smell, but they cannot see thru the thick vapor filling their car.

Between being high, legal to talk on your phone, aggressive redneck truck drivers, etc.....commuting on a bike is generally bad for your health. : |:mad

 

[LakeMerrit]

I'd lump in in with cig smoking/phone/infotainment/makeup use while driving. The inebriation itself is worrisome, but if you can hold down a job (I assume they're commuting to a job) while coming in baked every day, you can probably drive bumper to bumper at least on par with the makeup-applicating, instagram browsing, porn-watching sober drivers who fill almost every other car.

When you're driving, please focus on the driving. If you need to put on makeup, check social media, send a text, make a call, masturbate, watch the news, rip a heater, toke up, eat, or otherwise engage in non-driving activities, kindly get the fuck off the road and park prior to doing so.

Can't wait for self driving cars to become the norm. If the car drives itself, the 200# gorillas inside are free to butt chug PBR while painting their faces all the merry day.

 

[R3DS!X]

I've personally noticed a decrease in my commute. Also I would rather have some one high and driving instead of a sober person on their phone and driving.
No I don't smoke.