One of the first arguments against legalizing marijuana was the concern of motorists driving under the influence. Since marijuana stays in the system so long, there is no simple test like a breathalyzer to catch a driver who is high.
Those familiar with the effects were quick to point out that marijuana users are far less impaired than those under the influence of alcohol, but the naysayers were not convinced. Perhaps the news reported by Reuters will change their minds. It seems the traffic death tolls have fallen in the states that have legalized marijuana.
Two studies have ben completed. The previous study, published in 2013, showed traffic fatalities dropped 8-11% in the first full year after legalization. (This study included 19 states). The latest study shows an 11% drop in average after analyzing data from 1985 through 2014 from 28 states.
They are quick to remind us that correlation does not confirm cause and effect. There could be many explanations. They suggest the possibility that marijuana users are more aware of being impaired (when they are) and might choose not to drive. Perhaps they stay home and get high rather than going to the bars. Maybe the police presence has increased. The point is, they don’t know why. All they know is that the data shows legalizing marijuana for medical use has benefitted the public rather than harming it as many feared it would.
This study does contradict some earlier reports such as a 2014 news release from Colorado stating a 100% increase over 5 years in “marijuana-related traffic deaths”. This claim is derived from comparing 39 traffic deaths in 2007 to 78 traffic deaths in 2012. They claim the drivers tested positive for marijuana. But again, if someone smokes or ingests marijuana it can take up to 40 days to clear the system. So calling these deaths marijuana-related was questionable and obvious fear mongering, especially when the overall traffic death rate fell 14.8% during that period.
Further studies will have to be conducted to determine exactly why the data shows a decrease in fatalities and whether the trend will continue as some states are beginning to show a small rise occurring as time goes by. It will also be interesting to see the results of recreation legalization.
But in the meantime, one can’t help but wonder if at least some of the change is due to a decrease in road rage. Is it possible that marijuana use is mellowing out American drivers? If an attitude of “don’t worry, be happy” keeps us safe on the road, who’s to say that’s a bad thing?
In a huge victory for the North Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters, the Feds denied final permits required for the Dakota Access Pipeline project on Sunday.
The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.” – Jo-Ellen Darcy, Army’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Works
The Army Corps of Engineers announced it would conduct an environmental impact review of the pipeline project to determine other ways to route the pipeline to avoid a crossing on the Missouri River.
Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it’s clear that there’s more work to do.” – Army Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said in a statement.
On November 25th, John W. Henderson of the Army Corps of Engineers sent a letter to all of the leaders of the Great Plains tribes with an eviction date of December 5th. In the letter to Chairman Dave Archambault II of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, he stated,
This decision is necessary to protect the general public from the violent confrontations between protestors and law enforcement officials that have occurred in this area, and to prevent death, illness, or serious injury to inhabitants of encampments due to the harsh North Dakota winter conditions. The necessary emergency, medical, and fire response services, law enforcement, or sustainable facilities to protect people from these conditions on this property cannot be provided.”
In the letter, he suggested another location as a “free speech zone” for anyone wanting to continue their protest. He warns that those who do not comply will be subject to prosecution under federal, state, and local laws.
A coalition of groups protesting the Dakota Access pipeline released a statement in response declaring, “We will not be moved.”
Chairman Archambault went on to say,
The best way to protect people during the winter, and reduce the risk of conflict between water protectors and militarized police, is to deny the easement for the Oahe crossing, and deny it now… Again, we ask that the United States stop the pipeline and move it outside our ancestral and treaty lands.”
Aside from the threat to the water, one fundamental issue is appalling. The Army Corps of Engineers says the protesters are on government land. While the protesters state,
The Army Corps has no authority to evict us from these lands. The Oceti Sakowin encampment is located on the ancestral homeland of the Lakota, Mandan, Arikara and Northern Cheyenne—on territory never ceded to the U.S. government, and affirmed in the 1851 Treaty of Ft. Laramie as sovereign land belonging to the Great Sioux Nation.”
Archambault also said,
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe stands united with more than 300 tribal nations and the water protectors who are here peacefully protesting the Dakota access pipeline to bolster indigenous people’s rights. We continue to fight for these rights, which continue to be eroded. Although we have suffered much, we still have hope that the President will act on his commitment to close the chapter of broken promises to our people and especially our children.”
Apparently, President Obama was listening. Today, Sunday, December 4th, one day before the deadline, The New York Times reports that the Army Corps announced it will not approve construction permits for the pipeline and that it will look for alternate routes.
It is important to note that President Elect Donald Trump formally announced his support for completion of the pipeline on December 1st. He claimed that his own financial investments and campaign support and donations (both significant) did not influence his stance. His claims his decision is based on its benefit for all Americans.
Progress for the greater good, or in this case, “benefit for all Americans” is a continuation of the cultural genocide our government has justified for more than 200 years.
On Friday, October 28, 2016, The United Nations and Amnesty International each announced their plans to send delegations of human rights observers to investigate reports of human rights violations of protesters opposing the North Dakota Access pipeline. This action comes one day after heavily armed authorities surrounded protesters and reportedly used pepper spray, tear gas, and a sound cannon before arresting 141 protesters, bringing the total number of arrests to more than 400.
The Dakota Access Pipeline, a 3.7 billion dollar project, which is currently more than half completed, is being built to transport 470,000 barrels of oil a day across four states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. In southern Illinois, it will link with existing pipelines.
On January 25, 2016, Dakota Access announced it had received permit approval to build their pipeline from the North Dakota Public Service Commission. Seven months later, July 27, 2016, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed its first legal action to try and block the pipeline.
…North Dakota’s governor, Jack Dalrymple, activated 100 National Guard Troops…
In September, Standing Rock Chairman Dave Archambault II addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling on the council to help stop construction. He argued that two legally binding treaties, the 1851 Treaty of Traverse de Sioux and the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie are being violated. “The oil companies and the government of the United States have failed to respect our sovereign rights,”Archambault said.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe view the pipeline as a threat to their water supply and a threat to sacred lands and burial sites. Thousands have participated in peaceful demonstrations against the pipeline, but many have been met with violence. There have been many reports of beatings, pepper spray, tear gas, mace, attack dogs, rubber bullets, horses injured from shootings, and the use of compression grenades, and a sound cannon along with arrests where protestors are forced to endure strip searches along with cavity searches. Archambault was arrested. Amy Goodman, a journalist, and documentarian Deia Schlosberg were arrested.
Schlosberg filmed activists who manually shut off the safety valves to stop the flow of oil in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Washington state, was charged with three felonies: conspiracy to theft of property, conspiracy to theft of services, and conspiracy to tampering with or damaging a public service. The maximum prison sentence for the three charges would equal 45 years. She was held for 48 hours without access to a lawyer and her film was confiscated. The charges are still standing.
Journalist Amy Goodman was arrested twice. She was first charged with criminal trespass on September 8 after reporting on the September 3rd violence between security guards and protestors. Reports from the sheriff’s office said 3 workers were injured by protesters. Witnesses said the security workers used pepper spray on 30 protesters and 12 were bitten by pit bulls that were released to attack men, women, and children. Goodman’s charges were dropped only to be replaced with a charge of engaging in a riot. The judge rejected the case due to lack of evidence.
On August 31st, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues said the “world is watching” and made the following statement:
For indigenous peoples, the environment is a living entity that contains our life sources as well as our sacred sites and heritage. The environment is an important part of our lives and any threats to it impacts our families, ancestors and future generations. It is therefore imperative that the United States respects and recognizes the intrinsic, inter-related rights of Sioux and their spiritual traditions, history, philosophy, and especially their rights to their lands and territories.” – ABC News
On September 8, the day before the court’s ruling, North Dakota’s governor, Jack Dalrymple, activated 100 National Guard Troops to assist local law enforcement if protests become violent.
On September 9, a federal judge denied the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s request for a temporary injunction. On the same day, the Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Department of the Army released a joint statement saying,
The Army will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access pipeline on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land bordering or under Lake Oahe until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws. Therefore, construction of the pipeline on Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe will not go forward at this time. The Army will move expeditiously to make this determination, as everyone involved — including the pipeline company and its workers — deserves a clear and timely resolution. In the interim, we request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe.” – ABC News
The tribe appealed the September 9th ruling, but its appeal was denied on October 9th.
On October 25th, tribal leaders called on the U.S. Attorney General, Loretta Lynch to investigate civil rights violations. The Department of Justice released a statement about how they were working with both sides to defuse tensions, support peaceful protests, and maintain public safety. Two days later protesters set up a roadblock that closed down a state highway resulting an escalation in violent intervention and arrests.
The fear of environmental harm from this pipeline is not unfounded. The Center for Effective Government claims ruptures and leaks are a daily occurrence. On their site they state the following:
Since 2010, over 3,300 incidents of crude oil and liquefied natural gas leaks or ruptures have occurred on U.S. pipelines. These incidents have killed 80 people, injured 389 more, and cost $2.8 billion in damages. They also released toxic, polluting chemicals in local soil, waterways, and air.”
“One of the largest spills happened in North Dakota in 2013 when lightning struck a pipeline, which leaked over 840,000 gallons of crude onto a wheat field.”
On October 20th, a Pennsylvania pipeline burst, leaking 55,000 gallons of gasoline into Wallis Run, a tributary of a creek that drains into the Susquehanna River. The spill endangered the drinking water of six million people. The pipeline is owned by Sunoco, the same company behind the Dakota pipeline access.
Does the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have the right to protect their land and their water? Do they have the right to demand that the U.S. government honor their treaties and laws? Or will we continue to allow corporations and corporate greed to rule our country? Will we assist them in stripping citizens, especially native Americans, of their constitutional rights as we plunder the land and its resources? Didn’t we learn not to use the National Guard against our own people after the massacre at Kent State when National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students?
Hopefully, the added publicity from celebrity activists like Shailene Woodley, who was charged with criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot and Mark Ruffalo and the involvement of Jessie Jackson and Jill Stein will continue to sway public opinion. Even Bernie Sanders has made it clear that he supports the protesters.
Now that the UN and Amnesty International are involved, the whole world really is watching.
