LAS VEGAS – Metro police said they have a huge problem on their hands when it comes to people using marijuana and driving. Over the last three years, Metro’s forensics lab screened 4,500 blood samples for marijuana with the bulk of those being impaired drivers.
In Crystal Hill’s home, there are memories and pictures of her son Jesse.
Hill’s 18-year-old son Jesse was killed on January 1 while walking with his girlfriend. The two were near the family’s home when a car slammed into them.
Court records show the driver Christian Diaz had seven times the legal amount of marijuana in his blood.
“I had to file his first and last tax return yesterday, his brother doesn’t talk about him,” Crystal Hill said. “They’re 20 months apart in age; they were book ends that were his hero.”
Metro police said marijuana impairment is a problem and it’s getting worse.
Unlike alcohol, metro said drug impairment isn’t as easy to detect. Department statistics show if they tested each impaired driver involved in a fatal crash today, one in ten would likely test positive for marijuana.
“If it continues on this path in the next 5 or 6 years we could see marijuana and other non-alcoholic drugs overtake our DUI problem with alcohol,” Sgt. Todd Raybuck of Metro’s Traffic Bureau said. “We have a short memory when it comes to these accidents, and unfortunately that short memory lasts a lifetime for the victims.”
The remains of Jesse Hill now sit in an urn at his mom’s house. His mother said time won’t heal her wounds and hopes another family won’t have to go through the pain.
“Prior to this, I was for legalizing it for recreational use, tax it we’ll have more jobs, maybe we won’t have to get bonds for schools, things like that, now that my son has been killed, I see the other side, “ Hill said.
The remains of Jesse Hill now sit in an urn at his mother’s home. Hill adds time won’t heal her wounds and hopes another family won’t have to go through the grieving pain.
Metro said marijuana is dangerous because it slows down mental reactions, judgment of time, and distance.
Statewide records from 2002 to 2012 show for those impaired drivers tested for drugs, marijuana was far and away the most common drug found at 45%.
Metro: Marijuana impairment rising among drivers
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