Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — As people across the nation celebrated the unofficial 4/20 holiday, experts in travel, law enforcement, and the cannabis industry urged individuals to enjoy responsibly.

BACKGROUND: Brighton police deploy new tool to combat impaired driving ahead of 4/20 |Irondequoit police deploy SoToxa for roadside drug testing; attorney weighs in |Rochester opens first state-licensed cannabis dispensary in 4/20 celebration

On 4/20, inside Rochester’s busy cannabis dispensary, Good Life Collective, co-owner Jamel Young said, “It’s been going great. We’ve been seeing a steady increase, and also very, you know, backing from our community, which we’re very grateful for.”

Good Life Collective opened in 2024 and was the city of Rochester’s first state-licensed cannabis dispensary. “Edibles” and “drinkables” are popular items on the shelves, according to Young.

While cannabis is legal in New York, officials reminded the public not to drive while impaired and to have a plan in place.

Officer Evan Bruckel of the Irondequoit Police Department, one of 400 certified drug recognition experts in New York, said: “I would strongly advise that you get a sober driver, or if you’re planning on smoking, I would tell you to not get in a vehicle for at least 24 hours and sometimes longer.”

Bruckel helped introduce Irondequoit to SoToxa, a roadside drug detection device, which has been made accessible to all IPD officers. The tool, when used in conjunction with the opinion of a certified drug recognition expert, can help determine a subject’s intoxication, which had, in years past, been a challenge with regard to cannabis.

Over the 4/20 weekend, police agencies across Monroe County are participating in a special STOP-DWI campaign to curb cannabis-impaired driving.

A recent AAA survey of 2,000 cannabis users nationwide revealed several trends with regard to participants’ attitudes toward driving.

Mark Gruba of AAA of Western New York said, “Over half of the people surveyed said that they got behind the wheel less than an hour after consuming cannabis, and that’s very telling.” He added, “Almost 20% think that it makes them a much better driver, and of course, we know that that is not the case. The opposite is true.”

Gruba noted the desire for new safety messaging to reflect changing stigmas and times. “There’s an opportunity for people like AAA, law enforcement, and government agencies to partner with the cannabis industry to help come up with messaging that cannabis consumers will find that will be that they’ll be receptive to,” he said.

Young emphasized the importance of safety, saying, “If you’re consuming, especially on the holiday, you know, call an Uber. You know what I’m saying? Make sure you’re keeping yourself in good spirits on the holiday.”

While cannabis is legal in New York, it remains illegal at the federal level. County officials are working on a pilot program to make SoToxa more accessible to officers.

New York State offers a mobile app called “Have A Plan” to help people avoid impaired driving.

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