After years of research, it is commonly known that smoking cigarettes is harmful to one’s health, and can even affect others by secondhand smoke. November 6^th of 2012, amendment 64 was passed in Colorado outlining the statewide drug policy, making marijuana legal. The new law is meant to bring in more tax revenue, similar in manner to alcohol policies. Amendment 64 states that adults twenty-one or older can grow up to three immature and three mature cannabis plants privately in a locked space, legally possess all cannabis from the plants they grow (as long as it stays where it was grown) legally possess up to one ounce of cannabis while traveling and even give as a gift up to one ounce to other citizens 21 years of age or older. Consumption is permitted in a manner similar to alcohol, with equivalent offenses proscribed for driving. While many may be happy that this law is now in full swing, many of these people are underage teenagers to whom the law will not apply to anyways. I believe that many of these teenagers are pro-amendment 64 simply because they believe it is “cool” or because they do not understand the seriousness of the destruction of our Constitution to which it causes. I do not judge those who choose to make decisions involving this amendment, but I do wish for others to learn of the long-term effects it brings with it.

I personally don’t want to be driving with friends or family members in the car behind someone smoking while driving. Marijuana is a drug, it impairs the senses. Yes, it does not have the same affects as say alcohol does, but it makes reaction times much slower. Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana use can negatively affect a driver’s attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences. Of course people will continue to drive under the influence, but this law makes the possibility of that, much easier.

In 2012, Colorado had over 450 fatal car accidents and over 600 people in the car during these fatal accidents. But in a 2012 survey, according to teen drivers, ages sixteen-eighteen, teens think driving while high “makes them better drivers”. Out of those surveyed, 34% of teens said it makes them better drivers, while 74% blatantly said they just didn’t think it was bad to do while driving.

The results of that survey are devastating. 6,428 teen drivers in 2008 alone were killed, or caused the death of others in a car accident. With the numbers rising every year, for driving accidents teens are involved with, it is safe to say that teenage drivers do not need any further distractions while on the road.