Staying Safe

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he Washington State Traffic Commission (WSTC) is doing its part to combat impaired driving. The state agency received a $10,000 federal grant to help fight driving under the influence over the holiday season. Cleverly, the agency partnered with rideshare app Lyft, and they targeted cannabis consumers.

After the WSTC received the grant funding, it put together a public service announcement (PSA), encouraging drivers who have consumed cannabis to stay off the roads. In the PSA, cannabis activist and HEMPFEST promoter Vivian McPeak and WSTC Director Dr. Darrin Grondel partnered to dispel some myths surrounding cannabis and driving. “Driving is the most dangerous activity people engage in on a daily basis. It doesn’t matter what you’re on if you’re impaired. If you get in a crash you’re just as dead, and if you get arrested you’re just as arrested,” McPeak stated.

Grondel informed the audience that driving under the influence of cannabis doubles your crash risk. The reason cannabis consumers were targeted for this campaign is due to the fact that state data has suggested an increase in cannabis showing up in the bloodstream of people in serious crashes since legalization.

In addition to the PSA, grant funds were used to purchase 500 $20 gift certificates for Lyft. The gift certificates were handed out to customers at an event at Uncle Ike’s in Seattle and a major cannabis retailer in Spokane. Of the 500 gift certificates, 300 were earmarked for the Seattle area, and 200 for the Spokane area. Any remaining certificate codes that were not handed out at the event were given out via social media. McPeak was an integral part of the social media campaign to get the remaining gift certificate codes out there. Nearly all of the codes were redeemed within days of the event.

CULTURE reached out to WSTC Impaired Driving Program Manager Mark Medalen to find out more about the campaign, and what the goals of the WSTC were. Medalen stressed that the commission’s goal was not to get people to stop using cannabis. Cannabis is legal in Washington state, and the WSTC has no issue with adults legally consuming cannabis responsibly. The WSTC’s aim is to get impaired drivers off the road. Medalen stressed that cannabis consumers should “party with a plan.”

“I’ve seen personally from family and friends that cannabis can have amazing benefits medicinally,” Medalen said. “We’re not saying not to use cannabis. But with lots of new people trying cannabis out, it can affect people differently, and the place to test that out is not on the road.”

“We’re not saying not to use cannabis. But with lots of new people trying cannabis out, it can affect people differently, and the place to test that out is not on the road.”

Medalen also contended that while the legalization of cannabis cannot be proven to be the cause of increased cannabis-related crashes, there does seem to be a correlation. Similar increases in drunk drivers involved in crashes were noted after the privatization of liquor sales in Washington. Medalen surmises that accessibility is the common thread in this data.

Lyft has proven to be a solid partner when it comes to encouraging high drivers to stay of the road. In addition to its partnership with the WSTC, Lyft offered a clever promotion last 420, offering $4.20 off two rides all day.

“Lyft works to be a smart, reliable, and affordable 420 partner in order to raise awareness about the consequences of driving under the influence of marijuana.” Lyft Senior Manager of Policy and Safety Communications, Kaelan Richards told CULTURE.

Cannabis advocates like McPeak are wise to encourage cannabis consumers to stay off the roads while they’re under the influence of cannabis. And Lyft is savvy to continue to establish itself as the rideshare app with a conscience. As recreational cannabis legalization makes its way to the federal level, it’s important that cannabis enthusiasts are the loudest voice when it comes to driving safely.