CDOT aims to nip cannabis-impaired driving in the bud with Valentine’s Day safety bouquets
Traffic Safety Pulse News
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) put a new spin on flowers and love letters this past Valentine’s Day. The agency partnered with Lightshade dispensaries across metro Denver to give lucky patrons cannabis-themed bouquets adorned with safety messages. Also, valentine cards with information about Colorado’s impaired driving laws were 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.
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, traffic safety manager at CDOT. “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 comfortable doing so. CDOT hopes the “sweetheart” valentines provide 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.”
Access the media kit with photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4iwnstc71b9wtlj/AAA-MpwvfyC4KrfM2niR1PuPa?dl=0
