Baker hosting cannabis-impaired driving talk
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Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker
Gov. Charlie Baker, who opposed the recent decision of marijuana regulators to advance plans for cannabis bars and social consumption, plans to host an event to discuss impaired driving legislation Monday.
"We did file legislation earlier this year around drugged driving which I would really like to see as part of the mix on this before we head down this road," Baker said Sept. 24, the day the Cannabis Control Commission approved social consumption rules.
"The farther we get into sort of public distribution of this without putting something in place that creates the tools that law enforcement needs to keep the roads especially safe, I think is concerning," he said. "I would like to see that issue get dealt with and get dealt with relatively quickly."
Baker on Sunday night announced that he'll host a 3 p.m. Monday event with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and public safety officials to highlight impaired driving legislation. The Legislature is not in a rush to address the problem -- Baker's impaired driving bill was filed in January and is still awaiting a public hearing as it idles in the Judiciary Committee. He has previously flagged it as one of his priorities for this fall.
Last year, a Department of Public Health study found that nearly 35 percent of adults who reported using marijuana in the previous 30 days also reported driving under the influence of marijuana.
The social consumption rules, part of a package of new recreational marijuana regulations, were approved 4-1 on Sept. 24, with Baker's appointee to the commission, former Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, the lone dissenting vote, asserting that it's "too early" for social consumption and home delivery of marijuana. Baker said the day of the vote that he supported Flanagan's position.
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