Ensuring Community Safety with the increase of Marijuana Access
A Conversation with Detective Andrew Redfield Jr
Q: What is your background, Detective Redfield?
A: I’m a Police Detective in NJ with over ten years of progressive law enforcement experience. During my tenure as a Detective, I have been involved in investigations pertaining to various crimes such as attempted murder, human trafficking, controlled dangerous drug offenses, serious motor vehicle collisions involving impaired drivers, and other crimes of which I have testified in the NJ Superior court. Since becoming an officer, I have attended and graduated from many law enforcement training courses, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Drug Recognition Expert Program.
Q: What is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), and how often have you performed in the field as one?
A: A DRE is a police officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol. I have been involved in all too many incidents involving intoxicated drivers, including self-initiated motor vehicle stops through fatal motor vehicle accidents. I have personally observed the negative effects that impaired driving can have on the lives of people and their families as a result of impaired driving.
Q: New Jersey and many U.S. States have legalized marijuana for recreational use. How has marijuana legalization affected community safety?
A: We have seen a rise in vehicular accidents as well as drugged driving as a result of the increase in marijuana access (e.g., recreationally and medically) and over the last 10 years with states legalizing cannabis. If you analyze the reports from Colorado, Washington, and Oregon, which are the first few states that legalized marijuana, you will find some alarming patterns.
Reports show that legalized marijuana states had a 5.2% higher rate of police-reported crashes than neighboring non-legalized states. (1)
According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and who were roadside tested for marijuana, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled. There appears to be a misconception that marijuana doesn’t impair driving when, in fact, studies have shown it impairs driving for several hours after use. For example, 69 percent of cannabis consumers admit they have driven under the influence of marijuana at least once in the past year—with 27 percent admitting they drive high almost daily. Click this link to learn more about the cannabis detection window and testing.
Q: What is needed to improve community safety amid legalization?
A: We do not have a roadside testing device or a way to accurately and quickly establish the presence of marijuana as we have for alcohol. A rapid marijuana drug test is needed for roadside testing that can detect recent use. During a DUI investigation, this tool, coupled with impairment observations, would help assist an officer in determining whether a driver is potentially impaired or a safety risk.
Secondly, if drivers know we have a tool to detect recent marijuana use, they will be more deterred or think twice before getting behind the wheel after using.
Q: What are the key takeaways from today’s discussion?
A: The data is compelling that marijuana legalization has led to driving safety issues within our communities. We need to continue to educate people that marijuana impairs driving for several hours after use. To improve safety, we need a rapid marijuana drug test for roadside use that can detect if a driver recently used it. This will significantly help us in our DUI investigations and act as a deterrent.
