CDOT aims to nip cannabis-impaired driving in the bud with Valentine’s Day safety bouquets

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is putting a new spin on flowers and love letters this Valentine’s Day. The agency has partnered with Lightshade dispensaries across metro Denver to give lucky patrons cannabis-themed bouquets adorned with safety messages and artificial marijuana leaves. Also, valentine cards with information about Colorado’s impaired driving laws will be handed out to customers to share with their loved ones and friends. CDOT hopes the effort will raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of driving high.

Access media kit with photos, video and Valentine's Card here: 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4iwnstc71b9wtlj/AAA-MpwvfyC4KrfM2niR1PuPa?dl=0 

The promotion is intended to help educate consumers — and their family and friends — about the dangers of cannabis-impaired driving. Through its Cannabis Conversation, a two-year initiative that researched cannabis driving behaviors and perspectives from more than 18,000 Coloradans, CDOT found that dispensaries and budtenders are among the most trusted messengers when it comes to information about cannabis safety, laws and regulations.

“We heard from thousands of Coloradans through the Cannabis Conversation, and one of the recurring themes was that people trust information more when it comes from their dispensary or budtender,” said Sam Cole, CDOT Traffic Safety Communications Manager. “Our industry partners share CDOT’s goal of keeping people safe on and off the road, so it’s a win-win to be able to work together and share this information in a creative way.”

Feedback from CDOT’s Cannabis Conversation also found that people who drive under the influence of cannabis often expect passengers to intervene if they feel unsafe, but passengers said they generally do not speak up even when they are uncomfortable. CDOT hopes the “sweetheart” valentines act as an outlet for people to encourage their loved ones to play it safe.

“At the end of the day, responsible consumption and reducing cannabis-impaired driving is a shared priority,” said Lisa Gee, Lightshade Director of Marketing. “We’re proud to collaborate with CDOT to help encourage our customers to be safe and make sensible choices.”

The safety bouquets and valentines will be available at each of Lightshade’s eight dispensaries across metro Denver and Aurora on Thursday and Friday. 

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This initiative takes a systematic, statewide approach to safety, combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

ABOUT CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.