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Comment by eimrine | Hacker News Reader

Am I understood right that it is legal to drive while being smoked in Florida? In our country this is a recipe for losing your driver license.

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Dispensaries generally have to comply with regulations to put the items in a paper bag and staple it shut. If you get pulled over and the bag is still shut - no problems. Consider it equivalent to 'open container' concept for alcohol.

(In USA if you are of legal drinking age, it is okay to drive with closed containers of alcohol and generally very not okay to drive with open containers)

Clarification: Open is okay if it isn't easily accessible (e.g. in the trunk), or you're a rear passenger in some types of hired vehicles (long distance buses, limos)

Open container laws aren't even universal. In 10 states open containers are legal, and in most of those passengers can legally drink. In (of course...) Mississippi not only that, but the driver can drink too, as long as they stay below 0.08

Counties and cities can have open container laws too, so just because the state doesn't have the law doesn't mean you can legally do it.

That's pretty interesting. I was curious, so if you trust The Zebra[0], Mississippi has pretty average DUI problems despite pretty average alcohol consumption.

[0] https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/most-dangerous-st...

Anecdotally, my experience growing up in the rural south of the USA (not MS) is that the police would often let things slide for a member of the community that they knew. I.e. rather than a formal DUI, the individual would get a ride home and have to pick up their keys at the sheriff's office in the morning. This type of sentiment could be aligned with lax open container laws which could affect such data.

Wow, that is baffling! Today I learned!

It's not legal anywhere, though the name varies. Most states would refer to this as either a DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated).

They also sell beer in gas stations too!

America has drive-thru liquor stores.

Indeed, but that doesn't mean it's legal to start drinking while in your car.

Legal to smoke cigarettes and drive. Not legal to smoke cannabis and drive.

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