Driving high isn’t just a crime; it’s selfish.
Medical and recreational cannabis is legal in Illinois for adults, but driving impaired is not. We all have a responsibility to our communities and neighbors to share the road responsibly, know our limits, and make the right choice.
There is a misconception that driving impaired by cannabis is safer or less risky than drunk driving. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Don’t believe us? In one study, 40% of drivers who died in a traffic accident tested positive for active THC during their autopsy. This is a warning sign.
If you are impaired after consuming a cannabis product, you have a choice. Don’t drive. Don’t let friends drive you who are high. Would you get on an airplane if you knew the pilot was high?
Driving under the influence of marijuana, getting in an accident, and suffering the consequences of a DUI are preventable. You’ve been empowered to make the right choice. The law is clear: if you’re high, it’s still a DUI.
Behind every fatal crash is a family whose life was shattered by someone’s bad decision. These are their stories.
Video transcript
The Human Cost of Driving High
Tell me a little bit about Mia. I’m sorry. This is harder than I thought, brother. George was a wonderful person. He was full of life, truly one of the most joyful people I’ve ever met.
Remembering Bethany, George, and Mia
Bethany would brighten up a room with her smile. She is the good of this world. You put the public at tremendous risk when you get behind the wheel of a car under the influence of marijuana.
The Risk of Marijuana Impairment
Mia treated everyone equally. I remember February 27th, 2022, I got that phone call.
The Phone Call No Family Wants to Get
It was a family friend and he was on his second DUI. George had been involved in an accident and he was airlifted, but he, he didn’t make it.
Dispelling the Myth: Cannabis vs. Alcohol
I think there is a conception that driving under the influence of cannabis might be few and far between compared to alcohol, but I would say impaired is impaired. Smoking cannabis is actually, I think, a bigger problem than the alcohol-based impairment at the moment.
The Importance of a Designated Driver
Have that one person that is the designated driver that you can trust to get you home safely. I haven’t forgotten about you.
Your Life is Too Precious to Risk
It’s truly not worth it. Your life is too precious for something terrible like that to happen.