We Can Do Better Than Quietly Accepting Driving While High

Dear Neighbors,

On behalf of Illinois’ 102 County Sheriffs and the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, I come with an urgent request: we have to stop normalizing driving under the influence of cannabis, especially to our youth.

Cannabis is legal in Illinois. Driving under the influence of cannabis is not.

If you’re impaired after consuming a cannabis product, you have a choice. Don’t be selfish and make the wrong one.

Getting in an accident while impaired by cannabis can change the trajectory of your life forever. Suffering the legal consequences of a cannabis DUI is preventable. You’ve been empowered to make the right choice.

The law is clear: if you’re high, it’s still a DUI.

Every day, Illinois law enforcement responds to crashes caused by impaired driving. Families like Bethany’s, Mia’s, and George’s live with heartbreak because someone thought “it’s just weed.” It’s not “just weed” when lives are lost.

Thank you to the families who shared the tragic impact that impaired driving can have.

Together, we must encourage everyone to make the right choice. Choosing safety isn’t a weakness; it’s a sign of strength. Call a friend, use a rideshare, or wait, but don’t get in a car with a high driver.

Please use this website and materials as a resource. Share these stories, and the impact cannabis impaired driving can have. Don’t be silent and don’t become a statistic.

Sincerely,

Jim Kaitschuk
Executive Director
Illinois Sheriffs’ Association
3050 Montvale Dr, Suite D
Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: (217) 753-2372