The State of Utah has announced that for the summer 2014 mountain biking season they’ll begin testing riders for marijuana use before allowing them to ride their trails. The news is devastating for neighboring Colorado riders, for whom marijuana use is now legal, but Utah officials say they are within their rights.
“Just because Colorado lets you shred Fruita with a monster grin on doesn’t mean we have to let you dizzy hippies near Moab,” said Fran Seapance, director of lobbyist group Protecting Utah From Freaks, or PUFF. PUFF has a history of urging conservative Utahan politicians to approve anti-marijuana legislation. The group’s website maintains a list of bills it calls “Stuff PUFF passed.”
Under the new legislation, PUFF representatives armed with blood testing kits will be stationed at trailheads of Utah’s much-prized trails, such as Moab and the Park City area. Riders will be asked to submit to blood tests the day before they intend to ride, then check with their local PUFF office to find out if they’re cleared to go ahead.
PUFF says the process is fast and only slightly excruciating, but riders are outraged.
“This is such a bummer,” said Cody Dustin, 24, XC rider and corn chips enthusiast from Boulder, CO. “Utah has some of the best trails in the world, and they are holding them hostage.” Dustin then shook his head, and added, “I’m hungry.”
Though outraged emails from riders like Dustin have poured into PUFF offices as well as state and federal representatives, Seapance says the state of Utah is well within its rights to restrict access.
“If you take the pot, you won’t be riding our trails,” he said. “Unless you’re Willie Nelson or maybe Snoop Lion. Those guys are legends. But we doubt either of them could operate a bike, so whatever.”
