NEW YORK (WBNG) — 4/20 is a day where cannabis enthusiasts can celebrate their love of the product.
Whether enjoyers decide to use cannabis through traditional flower, vaporizers or edibles, the Office of Cannabis Management is urging people to celebrate responsibly this weekend.
“Everyone will have a different reaction to cannabis, and your reaction to cannabis may be different one time versus another, based on what it is you’re consuming and what we call set and setting, meaning your mindset, where you are when you’re consuming that product and how much of that product you are consuming,” said New York State Office of Cannabis Management Public Health and Education Deputy Director Lyla Hunt.
Marijuana smokers said recreational cannabis is a net positive with benefits for those who suffer from eating disorders and chronic physical pain, while being a way to relax after a long day.,
“Personally, it’s the only time of the day that I take a deep breath,” noted Samantha Cower, Southern Tier resident. “All day I’m just like gasping [for] short breaths, you know? And that’s the moment that I really inhale and exhale.”
Although many people enjoy partaking in recreational marijuana across New York State, many believe that cannabis products being legal have become a nuisance and make the roads more dangerous.
“Even driving in traffic, you can smell it. So you know people aren’t really following the law. You know that they’re using it when they’re driving, so I’m really starting to change my opinion and it’s becoming more negative as time goes by,” addressed Southern Tier resident Andrew Price.
Since the legalization of cannabis in New York State, police have seen traffic fatalities due to drug impairment rise at an alarming rate and are cracking down on impaired drivers.
“It’s legal to drink alcohol, and it’s legal to drive, but it’s not legal to do both at the same time. The same can be said about marijuana. It is legal to smoke marijuana in New York State, it is legal to possess in certain quantities but it is not legal to smoke and drive,” said NYS Police Sergeant Jonathon Cook.
If you are driving impaired from cannabis or other drugs, you can possibly face felony charges and up to $20,000 in fines and legal fees.
If you plan on participating in 4/20 activities this Sunday, do so in a safe environment where you will not have to get behind the wheel afterward.
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Since the legalization of cannabis in New York State, police have seen traffic fatalities due to drug impairment rise at an alarming rate and are cracking down on impaired drivers. Read More
