The Cannabis Control Commission reached the over-100 mark for provisional license approvals Thursday, all as they continue to work toward a framework for law enforcement to detect and punish impaired drivers.
Pot shops in Massachusetts have racked up nearly $24 million in sales since the first ones opened two months ago.
>>PREVIOUS: State: Nearly $24M in legal pot sales in first 2 months
Now, as more pot shops get set to open across the state, the commission continues to work on guidance for authorities when it comes to impaired driving.
Research scientists tasked with gathering data on effective methods to detect cannabis-related impairment presented their findings, which essentially boiled down to a few key points:
- Current field sobriety testing is not effective to detect cannabis-related impairment
- Blood, urine and oral fluid tests detect past use, not current impairment
- More research is needed
"For years, I've said, 'I don't care if it's Ambien, I don't care if it's Zyrtec-D, driving under the influence of anything is dangerous,'" Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan said. "But, I think what you've presented here gives a really good map."
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The recommendations included:
- Make refusal of a field test the same as suspect alcohol impairments
- Screen for problematic cannabis use for first-time cannabis-impaired driving offenders and recommend treatment
- Track the ethnicity for everyone pulled over suspected of cannabis impairment stops
It all comes as Governor Charlie Baker filed a bill Wednesday to adopt a state panel's recommendations to combat impaired driving, including tthose that mirror the research teams' recommendations and are opposed by civil liberties advocates.
The commission largely supports Gov. Baker's bill, which still needs House and Senate approval.
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