If you pop into any gas station these days, you can find products laced with THC readily available. These products come in a wide variety of potency and flavors, and it’s becoming an increasing headache for law enforcement across the state. Between edibles, vapes, and other ways to consume THC that are much more conspicuous than the olden days, it’s a challenge that police officers are having to face as they combat impaired driving in the area. State Trooper Jacob Pucheu, Public Information Officer for Troop B, says they cover the risks of driving while impaired by THC extensively in their high school programs. "The amount of THC in these products can vary greatly," Pucheu notes. "If your favorite pint of ice cream says there are three servings in it and you consume the whole thing ... there are also multiple servings within these THC products and that's how they get away with selling it," Pucheu goes on to say.
The lack of specific guidelines and regulations around many of these THC products seems to be a going concern when it comes to educating the public about them. "It's still so new to Louisiana, so we're all really trying to figure it out here. At the end of the day, all that matters is that if you feel different, you're going to drive differently," Pucheu points out. In Lafourche Parish, officers are also aware of the bevy of THC products that are openly available and have been trained to look out for drivers who might be impaired by them. Captain Brennan Matherne, Public Information Officer for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office, says if you're getting behind the wheel when impaired in any way, police will be able to tell. "In South Louisiana, we have a culture where social gatherings and alcohol tend to come together. And, of course, alcohol isn't the only thing that contributes to impaired driving here. As our job, we have to police it," Matherne says. "Illegal drugs like marijuana or products containing THC derivatives certainly lead to impaired driving as well. We've certainly been cognizant of people abusing things other than alcohol, whether that be marijuana or pharmaceuticals (whether prescribed or not). Impaired drivers, no matter what they're impaired on tend to display similar driving patterns and our officers are trained to recognize that," adds Captain Matherne.
While the physical and mental effects of marijuana and alcohol can be quite different, Jacob Pucheu of Troop B points out that troopers have been trained to spot impaired driving no matter what the cause. "These THC products are going to impair your driving in a way similar to alcohol. It makes your reaction times slower, your muscles aren't able to react as quickly, there's really no sense getting behind the wheel if you've ingested alcohol or drugs," says Pucheu. Captain Brennan Matherne of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office offers a similar message, emphasizing that for those who plan to drink or do anything that might impair their driving, they should leave home with a plan already in place. "We don't want people to drive drunk. The whole point of these checkpoints and these campaigns is to make drivers aware of the consequences so they stay off the roads and remain safe," Matherne emphasizes. "Our rule we always tell people is to make sure you have a plan to get back home before you even leave the house. There is no reason in the year 2024 (and about to be 2025) that you should be stuck in a situation where you feel like the only avenue for you to get home is for you to drive drunk. The easiest way for you to avoid that is for you to make that plan and get it together before you even leave the house," urges Captain Matherne.
Both Matherne and Pucheu note that just because a product is legal doesn't mean it's safe, especially when operating a motor vehicle. While there are hefty financial and legal consequences for driving under the influence, safety is the ultimate goal behind these campaigns according to both officers. While the checkpoints will grab attention, their emphasis is making sure drivers remain aware of their own condition before they hit the roadways.