most people who get put in jail/prison for drugs do not get a "taste" of how horrible it is and get years right off the bat for first offense

that's why I proposed five steps starting with warning, weekend, then week in jail

if you spend a weekend in jail and don't change your behavior from doing something wildly dangerous yet absolutely not addicting, well then proceed to a year in prison

note I am not saying put people in prison simply for smoking dope, it's not legal here but there are no serious penalties if caught

I don't care what people do in their homes

You drive on the road stoned when I am riding my bike or running and put my life in danger, you definitely deserve some time to think about it behind bars

I've been "grazed" on the road many time over the years, I have no idea if people are drunk or stoned or just looking at their phones but I am okay with my five step idea for ALL of those cases, but they will never be caught anyway until they murder someone and then it's too late

Driving towards a solution of "imprisoning more people" as punishment rather than other punishment have never succeeded. Many states already have first time drug offender and strike programs, people are already imprisoned over a weekend for things even as simple as misdemeanor possession until they can get a bail set. Rehabilitative forms of punishments such as severe fines, community service or mandatory classes and broadcasting them is much more effective in actually driving down rates of impaired drivers.

Whats more, police officers already have a wide authority of judgement when considering these factors around marijuana impairment currently. Relying on subjective evaluation from FST and physical presentation will only result in a higher rate of non impaired drivers being imprisoned.

WA state already has a "three strikes you are out" law (life in prison), but laws like this are racially biased and used against minorities far more.

https://www.courts.wa.gov/subsite/mjc/docs/2024/Three-strike...