California Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Marijuana Use While Driving

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Flickr / Kathleen Ann / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

On Dec. 29, 2016, California State Sen. Jerry Hill and Assemblymember Evan Low announced the introduction of Senate Bill 65 to ban marijuana use while driving.

Californians approved the legalization of recreational marijuana on Nov. 8, 2016, by passing Proposition 64. While the proposition bans open marijuana containers in cars, it doesn’t provide specific rules on marijuana use while driving.

“This legislation makes our laws for smoking while driving consistent with drinking while driving,” Hill said. “With New Year’s Eve approaching, it’s important to remind Californians that impaired driving can be deadly.”

According to Low, “This law underscores that driving is a serious responsibility that should be undertaken without impairment.”

If the legislation is passed, SB 65 would apply to operators of vehicles, boats and airplanes. The bill would also give judges the right to classify marijuana use while driving as a misdemeanor or an infraction.

The staff byline designates content that has been written by a staff writer of MJINews.

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