Phase two of Colorado’s marijuana traffic safety campaign launches

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The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will be holding its second annual The Cannabis Conversation later this year launching phase two of the marijuana traffic safety campaign.

The Cannabis Conversation is an interactive campaign that invites the public, the marijuana industry, local governments and law enforcement to identify solutions to marijuana use while driving. The campaign includes workshops, digital focus groups, online surveys, and meetings and events.

This year’s conversation has the goal of better understanding behaviors, opinions and perspectives related to marijuana-impaired driving. Feedback will be used to create a traffic safety PSA about the dangers.

“Colorado continues to lead the nation in exploring new and innovative ways to combat marijuana-impaired driving,” Sam Cole, CDOT safety communications manager, said. “The Cannabis Conversation is about working collaboratively with cannabis users and stakeholders to understand how we can deter people from driving impaired and protect everyone who uses Colorado’s roadways.”

In the state, marijuana DUI citations grew 25 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Last year, more than 20 percent of DUI citations involved marijuana.

At last year’s Cannabis Conversation more than 15,000 Coloradans participated by either attending public meetings or by completing an online survey and/or in-person interview.