Now that 33 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for some purposes, there are many people who use the drug who then wish to drive. Even in weed-friendly states however, it is illegal to drive while high.
Here in Tennessee, you can be convicted of DUI if you have any detectible amount of THC, marijuana's psychoactive compound, in your blood.
Lately, e-cigarettes have been a hot topic in the news. We continue to consider whether the devices are unreasonably dangerous, especially when used by minors.
As we've discussed previously, there have been a large number of e-cigarette-related illnesses recently, some leading to death. The illnesses and deaths have not been linked to a single brand of vaporizer. Many of those sickened admitted they had been using vaporizers containing THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. THC vaporizers are illegal in Tennessee and other states that have not legalized cannabis products, and they are also illegal federally. This means they are largely unregulated and could contain contaminants.
Recently, a judge in Oklahoma ruled that Johnson & Johnson created a public nuisance when it deceptively marketed its opioid painkillers Duragesic and Nucynta. He specifically stated that J&J had "caused an opioid crisis that is evidenced by increased rates of addiction, overdose deaths and neonatal abstinence syndrome in Oklahoma."
Johnson & Johnson won't be allowed to argue that the plaintiffs' scientific evidence showing some of the company's products contain asbestos is "lawsuit fiction." In her closing argument, J&J's attorney implied that the evidence had been falsified.
"When you don't have evidence, sometimes you have to create it," she said, before telling jurors that "you can see the difference between science, the truth and facts in the real world, and lawsuit fiction."
After the recent story of a Soddy-Daisy man who was arrested for drunken horseback riding, many people have wondered if you can get a DUI when riding a horse. Some states' drunk driving laws encompass all sorts of vehicles, and some people have been arrested for horseback riding while under the influence.
However, in Tennessee, our statute specifies that the person must be operating a motor-driven vehicle to be charged with DUI.
With an estimated 121 million drunk driving incidents each year, society is working frantically to cut down on the potential harm. You may also be working to cut back on drinking, especially when you're going to drive.
One way our society might cut down on the harms of drunk driving is to take drivers out of the equation and leave the driving to autonomous vehicles. There are already several vehicles on the market that have the ability to drive for many miles without any real input from the driver. Could a drunk person legally get behind the wheel of a Tesla or another, similar semi-autonomous vehicle?
Vaping describes the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, commonly called vapor, produced by an e-cigarette.
Manufacturers introduced e-cigarettes to the market as an alternative to smoking and as a tool to help people quit smoking. But, because it has led to a trend of adolescents who have never smoked cigarettes beginning to vape and becoming addicted, has this effort backfired?
A severe injury or life-changing disease can put future plans, goals and one's whole life on hold. And there is no doubt that these unexpected circumstances can cause anyone with an injury a considerable amount of stress.
However, devastating injuries from a car accident or a cancer diagnosis rarely affect only one person. Family members can also experience significant stress and changes in their lives after their loved one suffers an injury.
It depends on what you mean. Technically, a Tennessee DUI stays on your record for life. However, the look-back period for repeat DUI offenses is ten years.
The penalties for a second or subsequent DUI conviction are more serious than for a first-time DUI conviction. However, only those convictions that occurred in the last ten years are considered for this purpose. The look back period is ten years from the date of the offense back to the date of the prior offense.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitals in 16 states have now reported 153 cases of serious respiratory illnesses in the last two months tied to vaping. In each case, the sick person admitted having vaped either nicotine or THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana.
According to the New York Times, most of the sick people are adolescents or young adults who sought help for difficulty breathing. Many also said they were experiencing fatigue, chest pain and vomiting.
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Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers
735 Broad Street, Suite 800
Chattanooga,
TN
37402-2913
Toll Free:
888-778-6575
Phone:
423-933-2738
Fax:
423-266-5211
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