Cycle_of_life

Hello, all.

I just got back into cycling last year.

My usual rides are about 4 to 10 miles each way, and a good part of them are on regular, paved streets.

Lately, I'm noticing a disturbing, ongoing occurrence: The smell of marijuana coming from cars that are either just passing me, or turning past me at corners.

I notice it on almost every ride, and it's not just cars full of young people. It can be almost any vehicle with almost anybody inside; a middle-aged person alone, a couple or a contractor's work van with several people inside.

Has anybody else noticed this?

I don't want to turn this thread into a legalize/don't legalize pot thread, I just want to know if others notice this on their rides, where you are, and how often.

I'm in southern Queens County, New York.

Thanks,
Mike

RaleighSport

I'm not exactly sure how this fits in with A&S? You make no mention of these vehicles posing any sort of hazard to you.. other than perhaps an odorous annoyance?

I-Like-To-Bike

You certainly seem to have a well tuned nose. You can even smell what is inside passing cars, wow! Are you any relation to McGruff?

FBinNY 

I'm in Westchester and haven't noticed any evidence that anyone is smoking while driving. I strongly doubt it's an issue here in the metro NY area, since if those drivers were having more accidents (or accidents in general), it would have been reported by now.

RaleighSport

To be fair, the smell can be quite strong but you're right.. I doubt he can really identify which car etc is producing the smell. On my regular commute route, I can tell about the area where I assume a fairly large grow is happening.. because suddenly it stinks of that stuff for about 2 blocks. What's funny is this is a main road and they haven't been shut down or robbed...

Cycle_of_life

I posted this in Advocacy and Safety assuming that driving under the influence of marijuana would be akin to driving under the influence of alcohol.

If my thread should not be posted here, can you please tell me where it should be posted, and I'll gladly move it.

Thanks.
Mike

Cycle_of_life

Whenever I smell marijuana, the windows are always rolled down.

Mike

badrad

If we're stopped side by side, I'd ask for a toke myself...

bikemig 

As long as it's organic, right?

Mark Stone

I haven't noticed the maryjane fragrance on my rides.

RaleighSport

The known data says otherwise. Marijuana and Driving: A Review of the Scientific Evidence I'm not exactly pro pot but I am well aware how misinformed most people are about it. As for where it should go... I don't think we have a "things that annoy me" subforum so I couldn't tell you.

C Law

Are you sure you weren't mountain biking?

robert schlatte

You can definitely smell pot from passing cars. I would not say for me it's a common occurrence but I have detected that distinctive aroma coming from a car at times.

joeyduck

Move to Vancouver, half of my commute seems to produce a contact high.

But it is likely the joy of cycling that makes me happy.

genec

You can't smell certain fumes from inside passing cars... maybe your nose needs some work. I've been driving on freeways and caught a whiff of that stuff.

One thing I quite enjoy is the smell of cooking when I bike through residential neighborhoods, especially in the evening. Fumes from homes I am passing. No magic there.

genec

One might think it is akin to driving on alcohol... but thus far the states where it is legal have reported a decrease in automotive collisions.

Since marijuana legalization, highway fatalities in Colorado are at near-historic lows - The Washington Post

Of course at the same time those states are also reporting that more of the fatal crashes that do occur involved people who have smoked pot.

Study: Fatal Car Crashes Involving Marijuana Have Tripled « CBS Seattle

So it seems that people are crashing less, getting high more, and if they are involved in a fatal crash, there is a good chance that they used pot at some point.

big chainring 

Not from passing cars, but parked cars at the start of my group ride. Lots of guys blaze up before the Sunday morning ride. And a couple clouds of smoke coming out of the bushes too. Gets the heart pumping and clears the cobwebs I guess.

noisebeam

it is those biofuel vehicles burning hemp oil

mikeybikes

Even with the legalization here, I haven't noticed it from cars while riding my bicycle.

I have noticed it while riding by one of the pot shops. Should I be worried?

Jarrett2

I've noticed it but I don't find it disturbing. It makes me laugh every time. I'm surprised how often I catch a whiff in my neck of the woods.

Cycle_of_life

I mentioned that it was disturbing to me, because I was equating it with drunk driving.

I am reading all the links others are posting, and increasing my frame of reference.

Keep those comments coming, folks.

Mike

mconlonx

I've noticed it. In my state, we have legal MMJ and weed has been decriminalized. Smoking in a car is still a no-no, and driving under the influence of weed will still net you a DUI arrest.

Doesn't really bother me; as an issue I might take personally, it ranks lower than drunk drivers, texters, emailers, and those yakking on cell phones. About on par with someone drinking a soft drink in the cupholder or futzing with their radio/MP3 player while driving.

FBinNY 

Yes, one of these days one of those pot shops is going to jump out and open it's door directly into the bike lane.

Cyclosaurus

I ride the IL prairie path through a relatively sketchy neighborhood. I regularly pass people openly smoking pot there. It makes me happy because I think, there's one less bottle of booze becoming broken glass on the path.

noisebeam

i'd speculate that decriminalization/legalization may reduce use by driver of a vehicle. with less to hide one can wait until arriving at destination.