Read Part 1 and Part 2. Many teens have heard “stoned is safer than drunk.” In the social media, the pot advocates claim to drive more carefully when high on pot. Long-time pot users say ridiculous things which make young people think they’re immune to tragedy. Smoking pot and driving is not safe, and it’s foolish to guess which risky behavior is more dangerous than another.
A stoned driver killed high school senior Cheyllyn Ranae Collinsworth, 18, on May 17, 2017. “Chey,” as she was called, would have graduated as one of the top 25 students at Centralia High School. She planned to attend Central Washington University and pursue her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.
A crash on May 17, 2017 in Thurston County killed Cherllyn Collinsworth,18. The other driver – under the influence of marijuana – had crossed the center lane of Old Highway 99.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who bragged that he will defend Washington’s marijuana program should be sorry, too. He said, “My office will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that the federal government does not undermine Washington’s successful, unified system for regulating recreational and medical marijuana.”
However, another family must live with a big hole in their hearts.
Other Marijuana Driving Victims in Washington
Cheryllyn’s death adds to a growing list of victims in Washington who are also young people. Since Washington legalized marijuana for recreational purposes, drivers under the influence of marijuana killed these students (and perhaps others).
Cadence Boyer, 7 (killed from accident on sidewalk on Halloween)
High School Students
Jenna Farley, 14,
Kassidy Clark, 16
Luther Stroudermire, 18
Shane Ormiston, 18
Gabriel Anderson, 15
Cheyllyn Collinsworth, 18
Marijuana contributed to other deaths in Washington:
In Washington the percentage of traffic deaths involving stoned drivers is nearly the same as those involving those under the influence of alcohol, 27% vs. 29%. It is unbelievable that any state would add to the problem of drunk driving by calling for a policy that increases stoned driving and results in a higher rate of traffic deaths.
Recent Deaths Poke Holes in Theory that Stoned Drivers are Slower
Wouldn’t you rather have your teenage son driving stoned? Isn’t it better than drunk-driving? Now, seriously, please think about it. This argument is one that the pro-marijuana activists have posed, and they’re serious. Teen boys will be reckless and thoughtless, after all. They’re out for a good time and weren’t you at that age?
The stoners tell us that they’re extra careful and slow when they drive stoned. Drunk drivers drive too fast, they say. After all, they have been practicing it for years, making them “better” drivers when they’re stoned because they have to be more attentive.
Joseph Beer’s car split in two and hit a tree as friends Darian Ramnarine, 18, Peter Kanhai, 18, Chris Kahn, 18, and Neal Rajapa, 17, were killed, on the Southern State Parkway in October, 2012. Photo: CBS New York. Photo on top is from a crash in Seabeck, Washington, that killed 3 teens. Photo: Komo News
