cannabisnews.com: Many Cannabis Users 'Happy To Smoke and Drive' Many Cannabis Users 'Happy To Smoke and Drive' Posted by CN Staff on January 26, 2004 at 20:24:01 PT By John Carvel, Social Affairs Editor Source: Guardian Unlimited UK Most regular cannabis users admit to driving under the influence of the drug in spite of being aware that it impairs their performance, according to a study today from the Economic and Social Research Council. It found 74% of cannabis-smoking drivers said they had taken a car or motorbike on the the road while feeling stoned. Of those who had, 70% believed it had a bad effect on their driving. Of people who took the drug between two and seven days a week, 41% said they felt it was acceptable to drive under the influence of cannabis. The research team, led by Philip Terry of Birmingham University, said the potential economic and social cost of people performing risky activities while under the influence of cannabis was largely overlooked in the government's recent decision to downgrade the drug's classification. The team interviewed 100 frequent users of cannabis and 90 casual users who took the drug no more than four days a month. They found a third of the frequent users were willing to drive even when they thought they were "very high". Nearly 80% of those who had driven while using cannabis or soon afterwards said they would be deterred from doing so if roadside testing were introduced. Although at least one in eight had been stopped by the police while under the influence of the drug, none was tested for cannabis intoxication or charged with driving under the influence. The study found one in four used cannabis before or at work, with just over half of them admitting some degree of impairment. Users of the drug said its positive effects included aiding sleep, relieving pain, and assisting in relaxation; but its drawbacks were paranoia, demotivation, and forgetfulness. Dr Terry said: "Much effort by policymakers has been directed towards identifying potential health problems that might result from cannabis use. However, the indirect consequences of cannabis use may be just as significant. "Previous studies have failed to examine the extent to which chronic use of cannabis is likely to increase someone's risk of accident or injury, or to have potentially significant adverse effects on their financial or social wellbeing by affecting their job performance or personal relationships." A Home Office spokeswoman said that it had not ignored the other effects of cannabis, and the downgrading of its classification did not mean the department was telling people to take the drug - as it remained illegal. Special Report: Drugs in Britain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/0,2759,178206,00.htmlSource: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK) Author: John Carvel, Social Affairs EditorPublished: Tuesday, January 27, 2004Copyright: 2004 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Drugs Uncovered: Observer Special http://freedomtoexhale.com/dc.htmPenalties for All Illegal Drugs Under Review http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18226.shtmlCan Cannabis Make You An Even Better Driver? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18223.shtmlVoters Want Even Softer Line on Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18220.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 28, 2004 at 13:21:54 PT Advisory Council on The Misuse of Drugs - UK Advisory Council on The Misuse of Drugs: The Classification of Cannabis Under The Misuse of Drug Act 1971http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/reschedule.pdf [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on January 28, 2004 at 09:33:44 PT I Hope Everyone Has Seen This Video billos posted it and it is so funny!http://www.cbc.ca/mondayreport/videos/ontario.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 28, 2004 at 09:26:38 PT News Brief from United Press International U.K. Pot Smokers Won't Face Arrest NowLONDON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- British pot smokers have a lot less to worry about -- starting Thursday.That is when the U.K. government downgrades marijuana possession to a criminal level where mere possession of the drug will not result in an arrest, in most cases, the Daily Mail reported.Under the new law, cannabis possession will be illegal but will "ordinarily not be an arrestable offence." Instead, police will give an on-the-spot warning and the drug will be confiscated. By downgrading cannabis from a class C to a class B offense, the government virtually assures that police will no longer arrest most of the 80,000 adults a year who are currently charged with possession offences. Instead those charges will be handled administratively. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on January 27, 2004 at 19:24:05 PT billos No I hadn't seen it! That is great and funny and I love it! Go Canada! Go Cannabis! And of course Go Ontario! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by billos on January 27, 2004 at 19:20:43 PT: anyone else see this? Pretty cool http://www.cbc.ca/mondayreport/videos/ontario.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 27, 2004 at 07:43:07 PT Thanks The GCW! http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18229.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by The GCW on January 27, 2004 at 07:24:39 PT News from Steamboat. US CO: U.S. attorney enters marijuana case (coming to MAP) Pubdate: Jan. 27, 2004 Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today, The (CO)Viewed at: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/section/frontpage_lead/story/21647The U.S. Attorney's Office has asked a federal judge to dismiss contempt citations against six federal agents who seized marijuana from a Hayden man with a medicinal marijuana permit.In a simultaneous action, the U.S. Attorney's Office removed the case from the state court, taking the case -- for the most part -- out of the hands of Routt County Judge James Garrecht.Cont. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 27, 2004 at 07:22:48 PT Quiz: Cannabis and The Law Cannabis will be reclassified on Thursday from a Class B to a Class C drug across the UK, a move which has caused widespread confusion. How much do you know about the drug - and the new rules? Test yourself. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3423525.stm [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by yippierevolutionary on January 27, 2004 at 07:04:39 PT A good question to ask would be How many people who drove while on cannabis got into accidents? Speeding tickets? It is easy to check someones driving record right?How about some objective factual information instead of how they think they felt.There is a stop sign close to my house and I never come to a complete stop because it is one of those stop signs that really is saying slow down. A cop pulled me over for it one day and I said to him "All of these traffic rules and lights and signs are all getting at one point, don't hit anything and Hey I didnt hit anybody right?" He let me off with a warning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mayan on January 27, 2004 at 06:31:50 PT Damn... Friggin' long url's! Try this one...http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=66056&command=displayContent&sourceNode=65583&contentPK=8642613 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on January 27, 2004 at 06:24:00 PT Cops... They still don't get it... POLICE STILL HOT ON POT [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on January 26, 2004 at 22:07:32 PT Britain is a country indifferent to factuality The journalists, the doctors, the politicians -- they really do base everything about the world on social class differences.Marijuana is lower class, therefore it is an impairing substance, because being lower class is being impaired, in a class based society.I see more and more how American colonists became so violently upset with the British indifference to the real world in favor of the class based melodrama that they impose upon one another and everyone they deign to rule. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by jvthc on January 26, 2004 at 21:34:59 PT: Did anyone notice the curious formation... ...of this statement?"It found 74% of cannabis-smoking drivers said they had taken a car or motorbike on the the road while feeling stoned."Formed as if they were all smoking while driving.Might even be said to state that "cannabis-smoking drivers" would have to be 100%, because of the close use of "cannabis-smoking" to "drivers." If that were, "74% of cannabis-smokers with driver's licenses admit..." or some other form, then it wouldn't be so ambiguous.Still, 74% is quite a volume. Since no age breakdown is offered, I can't see if that's a youth issue, or what.I don't drive if I've smoked. It's a simple means of reducing the odds of involving police or the public. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Virgil on January 26, 2004 at 20:32:16 PT Please get impaired drivers off the road Get on the impaired drivers. Get the speeders too. Speed kills. What do you have on that since you are in an informative mood? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 26, 2004 at 20:27:19 PT Interesting Timing I hope they read this article.Can Cannabis Make You An Even Better Driver?: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18223.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment