‘But weed isn’t dangerous’

In the last 5 hours I’ve heard that sentence so many times I’ve lost count. Yeah it’s not addictive and it might not destroy your body like cocaine will, but weed does impair your mental abilities. Just like you don’t get behind the wheel when you’ve drunk alcohol, you don’t get behind the wheel when you’re high. Ever.

12 hours ago my life was normal. I had just got home from visiting my boyfriend across the country. I was unpacking and getting ready to start my classes again tomorrow. And then I get a phone call. My boyfriend was pushed through a shop window by a car this morning while walking to the library to study for his exam tomorrow. He was hit by someone sky high on weed. This person was severely impaired and wasn’t able to hit his brakes properly when a car stopped suddenly in front of him. Because it’s icy out slamming on the brakes caused him to spin out and crash through a store front window. Had he been sober this very likely would not have happened. He’d likely have responded to the braking car in front of him faster. Or maybe he’d have been able to maintain control of his car.

I turned around and flew 7 hours back. Now I’m back in the waiting room while my boyfriend is rushed into his second emergency surgery. I’m talking to police officers about criminal charges. I’m talking to doctors about potential brain death and permanent physical disabilities. I’m sitting here thinking about how in the world I’ll explain to my boyfriend that he may never be able to continue his chosen career path. That he’ll never drive again. That he may never walk again. And heaven forbid, but he may not wake up. He might wake up and never be the same person he was when he went to the library this morning. The person that kissed me goodbye last night at the airport and promised to see me in May.

I’m sitting here watching my life fall apart. And so many people who keep trying to comfort me keep saying ‘weed shouldn’t do this’. ‘Alcohols destroys families, not weed’. ‘Weed is safe’. And then there’s the conversation about how hopefully this doesn’t impact the legalization of weed that’s currently in the works. I hope it affects the legalization. I hope our politicians consider how they’re going to deal with impaired drivers. Because weed might not kill you, but don’t you dare tell me it doesn’t kill. It destroys families. It ruins lives. Yes of course it’s the people making the choice to get behind the wheel why impaired, but you can say the same damn thing about alcohol.

You want to smoke a joint? Go right ahead. But don’t you dare get behind the wheel of a car. My life and my boyfriend’s life will never be the same and of course my boyfriend may not have a life to live. And that’s because of the people that chose to smoke and drive.