cannabisnews.com: Don't Be A Dope


cannabisnews.com: Don't Be A Dope 





Don't Be A Dope 
Posted by FoM on December 19, 2000 at 15:04:17 PT
By Arran Frood
Source: New Scientist 
It's official: smoking dope makes you a worse driver. But cannabis has less effect on driving ability than alcohol, according to a study by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) in Crowthorne, Berkshire.The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions asked the TRL Safety Department to investigate the effect of cannabis intoxication on driving ability. Cannabis is by far the most common illegal drug found in the bloodstream of road accident victims, and THC-the active ingredient in cannabis-can remain in the body for more than a month.
Barry Sexton and his colleagues at the TRL recruited 15 volunteers to complete driving tests while under the influence of low or high doses of cannabis, or no drug at all. The volunteers either smoked readyrolled cannabis joints or rolled their own with resin supplied under government licence. They were then put through their paces on a sophisticated driving simulator.The researchers measured their accuracy at steering the car, known as "tracking ability", and other psychomotor responses, such as hazard perception and braking responses. They took blood and saliva samples at regular intervals and also tested the subjects' coordination, balance and timing.The first thing the researchers noticed was that the subjects drove more slowly under the influence of dope, compensating for their intoxication by driving more cautiously. Tracking ability was the only test criterion that was adversely affected: the volunteers found it very difficult to follow a figure-of-eight loop of road when given a high dose. Reaction times to motorway hazards and performance on cognitive tests in the lab were not significantly affected.Trials previously completed under similar test conditions at the TRL have shown that alcohol and tiredness have a more adverse effect on driving ability, affecting higher cognitive processes. The results of the cannabis and driving study agree with similar research carried out in Australia, the US and Holland.Pete Henshall of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, which is a British political party, comments that "any person who is not in full control of their body should not drive, be it through tiredness, alcohol, cannabis or drugs ... but everything must be seen in proportion. We need to legalise and regulate cannabis in a similar way to alcohol to be able to see the size of the problem."Jane Eason of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents favours the roadside tests to spot cannabis intoxication now being tried by British police. "We would welcome any measure that might make the roads of Britain safer.Note: If you're going to smoke a joint, don't drive home.Source: New Scientist (UK)Author: Arran FroodPublished: December 16, 2000Copyright: New Scientist, RBI Limited 2000Address: Reed Business Information Limited151 Wardour St, London W1V 4BN, EnglandFax: +44-20-7331 2777Contact: letters newscientist.comWebsite: http://www.newscientist.com/Feedback: http://www.newscientist.com/letters/reply.jspRelated Articles & Web Site:Legalise Cannabis Alliancehttp://www.lca-uk.org/Pot Smoking Can Impair Driving Abilityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/1/thread1955.shtmlStudy Shows Marijuana Not A Factor In Driving Accidents http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/03/990325110700.htm
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on December 22, 2000 at 06:30:05 PT:
Related Article
Report: Influence of Marijuana on Drivers Less Drastic than Alcohol, but Still Significant Source: Pollution OnlineAuthor: Sandy Smith, Managing Editor, Safety OnlinePublished: December 20, 2000E-mail: ssmith verticalnet.com Website: http://www.pollutiononline.com/ The UK government this week published results of its research into motorists who drive under the influence of marijuana. Researchers found that while the effects of marijuana are less drastic than those of alcohol, they are still significant.The study, "The Influence of Marijuana on Driving," is part of the government’s new research for the Road Safety Strategy. The research shows that people who take high doses of the drug may experience an adverse effect on their ability to control their car, with driver performance becoming unpredictable.In terms of road safety, the report shows that driving under the influence of marijuana could be a hazard. It also suggests that in some cases drivers on marijuana compensate -- by reducing their speed, for example -- because they realize their driving is impaired.According to results from another study that will be published shortly, 18 percent of all road accident fatalities between 1996-99 had traces of illegal drugs in their bodies – two-thirds had marijuana in their bloodstream. (Although the study points out that the presence of drugs does not in itself establish the cause of these accidents. Traces of marijuana can remain in the body long after use and long after any impairing effect.)The results from the soon-to-be-released study, "The Incidence of Alcohol and Drugs in Road Accident Fatalities," reflect a considerable increase in drug usage compared with a previous 1985-87 study. However, alcohol is still the primary problem. The study shows traces of alcohol were present in 32 percent of the fatalities, and 22 percent of the fatalities were over the legal limit."This is part of an on-going research program to give us a better understanding of the links between drugs and impaired driving,” said Road Safety Minister Lord Larry Whitty. “More work now needs to be done on problems associated with combinations of drugs, including medicines and alcohol. We will continue to research impairment of driving, and support the development of practical roadside drug screening tests.”As part of the Road Safety Strategy, the government released the results of a pilot program to train officers in drug recognition techniques and field impairment testing. The program was launched in August. Participants, who included traffic officers and police doctors, said the techniques are a worthwhile addition to their normal procedures. The police officers added that the training greatly enhanced their ability to recognize impairment.Copies of Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) 477, "The Influence of Marijuana on Driving" (price: GBP50), may be obtained from TRL Limited, PO Box 303,Wokingham, Berkshire, RG45 6YX.Copies of TRL464, "Recognising Drug Use and Drug-Related Impairment in Drivers at the Roadside" (price at publication GBP25), are also available from TRL. Executive summaries of both reports are available at the DETR website address: http://www.roads.detr.gov.uk/roadsafety/index.htm
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Comment #8 posted by NiftySplifty on December 20, 2000 at 18:05:15 PT
Yeah, but it's easy to get lost at night.
Anyone driving home from the first time at a friend's new place might tell you navigating a new course is kinda tricky at night. But, who's in such a hurry anyway?The only real danger is when you're digging around for the candy bars.
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Comment #7 posted by Dan B on December 20, 2000 at 01:03:21 PT:
Two More Things...
"Pete Henshall of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, which is a British political party, comments that 'any person who is not in full control of their body should not drive, be it through tiredness, alcohol, cannabis or drugs ... but everything must be seen in proportion. We need to legalise and regulate cannabis in a similar way to alcohol to be able to see the size of the problem.'"One interesting thing about this article is that the "expert," Pete Henshall, seems to group cannabis in with the more socially-accepted category ("tiredness, alcohol, cannabis") separate from the general "drugs." Perhaps he believes that cannabis should be legalized. After all, he does go so far as to suggest legalization of cannabis and, even though it sounds like the author is being rhetorical, such a statement points at least to a greater ability to talk about the possibility of legalization in a public forum. Okay, I lied--three things. The key here seems to be the phrase "in full control of their body" (and I'm not talking about the pronoun agreement error). By the reasoning of this quotation, if one has used cannabis but is still in control of one's own body, one should still be safe to drive. The key is not what one has consumed, but whether that person is in control of his or her body.Dan B 
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Comment #6 posted by Stripey on December 19, 2000 at 23:29:56 PT
Oh, hell yeah. . .
I'd be in that sucker like Nascar! lolI'd see if the simulator could do a rollover if I careened into a telephone poll at a 110. . . =) I think they'd probably throw me out on grounds of being too screwed up sober. =) Besides, anything moving in a figure 8 for a repeated amount of time messes me up when I'm neither drunk nor high. . . =)
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Comment #5 posted by Dan B on December 19, 2000 at 22:16:56 PT:
This study reeks of a poor assumption
If I were stoned and told to drive in a driving simulator, I think I'd have a pretty hard time taking it seriously (I'd probably start by seeing how fast it'll go, for example). On the other hand, if I were stoned and driving a car (hypothetical situation here), I think I would become much more vigilant than usual because I wouldn't want to hurt anyone (including myself) and because I wouldn't want to get caught. So, if I were a researcher wanting to see how well people drive when they're stoned, I would eliminate the possibility that I could generalize real life results from a simulator. The underlying assumption that such a generalization could logically be made is ludicrous and places the entire study into question. The Australian study nl%x linked to was much better designed. And that study, I believe, showed that cannabis users had slightly better driving records than those who used no drugs or alcohol at all. Thanks for the links, nl5x.Dan B
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Comment #4 posted by Alex on December 19, 2000 at 18:52:15 PT
remark
"...and THC-the active ingredient in cannabis-can remain in the body for more than a month."It's funny how such presumably serious scientific journal can distort facts so blatantly. One may get an impression that active ingredient stays in the body and is affecting it "for more than a month" (which would be cool :), while it is in fact metabolites of cannabinoids that get retained in fat tissues.
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Comment #3 posted by nl5x on December 19, 2000 at 17:03:57 PT
more info
Take the High Road Marijuana may make drivers safer, study claims 	British researchers testing the harmful effects of marijuana delivered an embarrassing bit of news to their government recently. Toked-up study participants went through four weeks of driving tests using driving simulators. Although the researchers found that the drug lowered reaction time, they were surprised to find that it made the participants safer drivers. Unlike most studies of cannabis -- the drug's medical name -- this one managed to find 15 regular users, because volunteers who've seldom or never used the drug become much more intoxicated, which distorts study results. The drug's mellowing effects made drivers more cautious and less likely to drive dangerously, the London Sunday Times reports. The drop in reaction time was significantly less dangerous than drinking or fatigue would have produced. Cannabis might even help drivers navigate better at night. Last year, scientists confirmed that the drug's active ingredients also play a role in vision. (The body has natural "cannabinoid" receptors.) The discovery may explain numerous reports that smoking the drug increases visual sensitivity, says the Electronic Telegraph. Caribbean fishermen even claim it helps them see in the dark. A report from the University of California at San Diego has the technical details. Of course, like any drug, cannabis can be harmful. Several studies have reported that smoking cannabis releases harmful free radicals into the lungs and more "tar" than cigarettes, which contributes to the risk of lung cancer. A feature in New Scientist also contradicts the old idea that cannabis is not addictive. It turns out to be about as addictive as alcohol, and even more so among teens. The good news is that cannabis' addictive potential wanes with age, with most users quitting long before they reach age 50. -- Jeff Johnston				http://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af?id=102971&ap=52Drug-free drivers caused the accidents in 53.5 per cent of cases. Injured drivers with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than 0.05 per cent were culpable in nearly 90 per cent of accidents they were involved in. Drivers with cannabis in their blood were less likely to cause an accident, with a culpability rate of 50.6 per cent.U. Of Toronto Study Shows Marijuana Not a Hazard! (3/1999)http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread986.shtml Cannabis May Make You a Safer Driver (8/2000)http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread6717.shtml Australia: Cannabis Crash Risk Less: Study (1998)http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n945/a08.html Australia: Study Goes to Pot (1998)http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n947/a06.html --
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Comment #2 posted by aocp on December 19, 2000 at 16:15:33 PT:
Mountain vs. molehill
>The first thing the researchers noticed was that the subjects drove more slowly under the influence of dope, compensating for their intoxication by driving more cautiously.I missed how this is a problem.>Tracking ability was the only test criterion that was adversely affected: the volunteers found it very difficult to follow a figure-of-eight loop of road when given a high dose.A few things to bear in mind: (a) high dose (b) figure-of-eight loop (c) only test criterion ... adversely affected.>Reaction times to motorway hazards and performance on cognitive tests in the lab were not significantly affected.Ok, let's add (d) the above.
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Comment #1 posted by observer on December 19, 2000 at 15:26:16 PT
Facts, Spin Disconnect
the spin:It's official: smoking dope makes you a worse driver.buried in the article:Tracking ability was the only test criterion that was adversely affected: the volunteers found it very difficult to follow a figure-of-eight loop of road when given a high dose. . . .alcohol and tiredness have a more adverse effect on driving ability . . .Interesting to note several things here. One, this appears to be almost as bad as they could spin it: they could have done little to have taken this one simulator-measure (tracking under high doses) and written an article to heighten the apparent harms of cannabis. Two, these are not actual driving results, they are simulator tests. When we look at real-world results, where tests aren't cooked up to maximize ostensible cannabis driving effects, we find the opposite. Cannabis users are the safest drivers. Study Finds Cannabis Not Cause Of Automobile Accidentshttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n943/a03.html Study Goes to Pothttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n947/a06.htmlCannabis Crash Risk Less: Studyhttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n945/a08.htmlDrug-Accident Link Is Far From Provedhttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n948/a07.html etc. 
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