cannabisnews.com: Researcher Studies Effects of Pot on Driving





Researcher Studies Effects of Pot on Driving
Posted by FoM on May 25, 2001 at 08:02:45 PT
By Doug Beazley, Edmonton Sun
Source: Edmonton Sun
If you're reading this article while driving, you should drop the paper and watch the road. If you're reading this while driving and smoking a joint, you should pull over right away and read the whole thing. Canada's on-again, off-again debate over our marijuana laws is on again, thanks to federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan's recent off-the-cuff musings about decriminalizing pot possession. By now, she's probably wishing she'd kept her mouth shut. 
"Let's just step back a bit here and be perfectly clear," said an agitated McLellan at an Edmonton speaking engagement yesterday. "The only thing we're saying is ... we're quite happy to have a Commons committee discuss this subject with Canadians to get their views. I'm not going to comment on this." Which is just groovy with Peter Goldring, who's been having much fun lately needling the justice minister on the pot issue. Over the weekend, the Edmonton East MP suggested that the feds want to decriminalize possession in order to tax marijuana to death, the way they do tobacco. Yesterday, he suggested that decriminalization could give a whole new spin to the word "highway" and put Canadians at risk of death and injury at the hands of stoned drivers. "It's mind-altering and therefore dangerous under certain circumstances," he said. "It can make people paranoid and it can leave them disoriented." Granted, smoking pot can make you disoriented. It makes you laugh hysterically at things that probably aren't funny. But does it make you a dangerous driver? On its own, probably not. Dr. Alison Smiley is one of the few people on the planet who've actually looked into pot use and driving habits. She's a University of Toronto professor studying how humans interact with machines, cars included. She published a paper in 1999 that concluded, on the basis of medical research and vehicle accident stats from the U.S. and Australia, that marijuana may actually make you a more careful driver. "The overall conclusion is that marijuana impairs driving performance, but not in the way that alcohol does," she said. "Marijuana use, on its own, tends to result in more cautious driving behaviour. "The crash statistics showed no increase in accidents where marijuana was involved." The reason, Smiley suggests, is that marijuana impairs in a fashion quite unlike booze. Drunk drivers tend to take stupid risks: speeding, tailgating, dangerous passing, failing to signal or to wear a seat belt. "Alcohol tends to make people more confident," she said. "The effect of marijuana is a kind of information overload, too much stimulation. The normal human reaction to that is to slow down, be extra careful. With marijuana, the driving behaviour tends to be more compatible with the impairment than with alcohol." Since stoned drivers tend to drive slow, they're presumably easier to catch than drunk drivers. They're also harder to convict. There's no practical roadside test for marijuana impairment, and even blood and urine samples aren't always reliable enough for the courts. "Alcohol tends to distribute itself evenly throughout the body," said Smiley. "So a blood or breath sample is a good indicator of how much alcohol has reached the brain. Marijuana tends to collect in fatty tissues, so a blood sample won't show exactly how much has reached the brain." There's local precedent. In 1999, Albertan Patrick Houlgrave was acquitted of impaired driving causing death in a Banff-area auto accident. Houlgrave had smoked part of a joint with his then girlfriend about an hour before the crash. His lawyer brought a medical expert to court who testified the amount of pot Houlgrave had consumed was too small to make him "impaired" under the law. Of course, very few marijuana users are teetotallers; since grass tends to be used in combination with booze, stoned drivers may also be driving drunk. And marijuana and booze in combination have been proved to cause severe impairment in driver reaction time. But since it's tough to prove just how stoned someone is on marijuana, said Smiley, cops should concentrate on the ones they can catch. "It simply makes more sense to me to concentrate efforts on getting drunk drivers off the streets." Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author: Doug Beazley, Edmonton SunPublished: Friday, May 25, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: sun.letters ccinet.ab.ca Website: http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/ Related Articles:Drug-Impaired Driving Gets a Harder Lookhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9006.shtmlIt's Time to Get Tough on Using Drugs and Driving http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8755.shtml 
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Comment #12 posted by DdC on May 25, 2001 at 22:47:38 PT
Driving on cannabis only flattens it.
Crancer Study, Washington Department of Motor Vehicles "Simulated driving scores for subjects experiencing a normal social "high" and the same subjects under control conditions are not significantly different. However, there are significantly more errors for alcohol intoxicated than for control subjects" U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (DOT HS 808 078), Final Report, November 1993: "THC's adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small" Professor Olaf Drummer, a forensic scientist the Royal College of Surgeons in Melbourne in 1996 ":Compared to alcohol, which makers people take more risks on the road, marijuana made drivers slow down and drive more carefully.... Cannabis is good for driving skills, as people tend to overcompensate for a perceived impairment.": IHA Cannabis (driving)http://mojo.calyx.net/~olsen/HEMP/IHA/iha01206.htmlcannabis use and drivinghttp://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionwhyitstimetolegalize.showMessage?topicID=54.topicLiquid Legal Drugs and Driving is the #1 cause of death for 18-24 year oldshttp://www.ariannaonline.com/discus/messages/4/115.html?ThursdaySeptember1619990216pm3 strikes and your out Mr.Bushhttp://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionwhyitstimetolegalize.showMessage?topicID=184.topicSmoke a Joint Lose Your Licensehttp://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionwhyitstimetolegalize.showMessage?topicID=90.topicCannabis Hemp: The Invisible Prohibition Revealedhttp://www.shorejournal.com/9902/rwd0228a.html The Elkhorn Manifestohttp://www.shorejournal.com/elkhorn
Duh Rug War
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Comment #11 posted by Charlie on May 25, 2001 at 17:17:43 PT
My two cents:
I've driven countless miles stoned!Many moons ago I had a job delivering flowers around the Philadelphia metro area 8 hours a day, stoned 7 of 'em. Chalk it up to youthful discretion.5 round trips to Florida, stoned.Just back from driving to New Orleans and back (Jazzfest was calling. Talk about a pot party!) 1200 miles in 23 hours, stoned (2 drivers)!Herb was instrumental in aiding my withdrawal from cigarettes. No 'bout a doubt it. Started smoking cigarettes at age 9, quit at 26. Free of them for 20 now! They gave them away back then, cute, little 4 cig packs. The first ones free...(Bastards)Read here recently that cannabis was found to soothe the DTs experienced with alcohol withdrawal.Re: blood pressure. My understanding is that tobacco (nicotine?) constricts blood vessels where as cannabis dilates...per Jack.May the fest be with you.
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Comment #10 posted by baked on May 25, 2001 at 16:19:38 PT:
Oh Canada!
I just wanted to say that Canada is a much more sensible country than the U.S. I was born and raised in Toronto but now live in the U.S. since '90. I smoked up there I smoke down here...I am safe up there I can be put in jail, lose custody of my daughter, lose my house and car here without a conviction down here! What the hell is that! I dont bother anyone, I go to work everyday and I pay my taxes. I am not a criminal up there but I am down here. I am going to Vancouver in June and I cant wait! I am taking an american freind of mine and he has allready started asking me questions on how he can get a visa to live there!
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Comment #9 posted by Dan Hillman on May 25, 2001 at 12:25:41 PT
fun fun fun
> Which is just groovy with Peter Goldring, who's been having much fun lately needling the justice minister on the pot issue. Why is he "having fun"? Perhaps because the Edmonton Sun reports that he is? Actually, after reading the rest of the article detailing Dr. Alison Smiley's (luv that name!) refutation of Goldring's prejudices, I wouldn't think it'd be fun at all to be in Goldrings shoes right now.
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Comment #8 posted by hot rod driver on May 25, 2001 at 12:03:30 PT:
I dont see an issue, really
Why is this even an issue, driving under the influence is illegle as is breaking traffic laws. If a person is not breaking traffic laws the who cares what they snorted smoked injected or drank. If the officer believes imparment at the event of a trafic stop for breaking traffic laws related to imparment i.e. dangerosly slow, not maitaining single lane, reckless driving in general, then and only then would an officer need to concern themselves with toxicology. Correct me if im wrong.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 25, 2001 at 11:18:34 PT
Dan
Low sodium diets are bland to say the least. It takes about 8 weeks to get over missing salt but then it isn't that bad. If a person drink alcohol that raises blood pressure too. I think alcohol is worse then too much salt in a diet but I could be wrong.
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Comment #6 posted by Dan B on May 25, 2001 at 11:12:34 PT:
Re: High Blood Pressure
I should also point out that my last toke was early in January, and I had no indication of high blood pressure until the past two months or so. I periodically checked my blood pressure (when I saw the machine at the grocery store--I love mechanical gadgets), and it had been normal for a few years before this, with or without weed. Anyway, I'm now on a low-sodium diet (which sucks, to be quite honest), so I hope that will fix the problem. So far today, just 125 mg of sodium. That leaves me 1875mg between lunch and dinner. Yippee.Dan B
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Comment #5 posted by Robbie on May 25, 2001 at 10:44:07 PT
Cannabis supressant
Imprint:One last though, I wonder if marijuana would be effective in helping someone quit smoking cigarettes as well? I will be the first person to laud the use of marijuana to aide in giving up tobacco cigarettes.In the first two weeks that I quit, after 15 years at a pack a day, any time I would really feel anxious and even panicky, I take a bit of weed. Takes the edge of the withdrawal off. Now, this by no means cures your desire for the cancer sticks, but it makes you forget the DT's for a little while.Also, it's not as if I replaced tobacco with marijuana...on any given day I never smoked more than 1 gram.After 3 weeks, I was largely over the primal desire to smoke a cigarrette. And since marijuana is NOT addictive, another thing I can attest to, it's easy to get to a point where you no longer smoke anything. I have gone without weed many a time since May 2, 2000...the day I quit cigs.Now, this is using marijuana smoked. I can't say anything about how eating may affect you. Also, I stopped drinking ANY caffeine for two weeks. When you're on the cigarette DT's, you certainly don't need any kind of stimulant! ;-) During withdrawal, I would occasionally walk into the bathroom and stand in front of the toilet. I didn't use it, I just stood there. And that was and was not while high. Nicotine is a serious drug. Why haven't they banned that?This is probably some time off, but when you're watching TV and see one of those Nicoderm commercials, replace Nicoderm CQ with Cannabis QS and you have just as effective a cigarette suppression system.I am one year and nearly a month clean. I'm glad as hell that I quit, but I've become very much anti-tobacco since then. I certainly hadn't intended to become a prohibitionist when I quit smoking :-) RANT:On But I will say that Phillip Morris should burn in hell.RANT:Off OH! Sorry, that's my continuing background desire to smoke cigarrettes talking. Believe, I don't think about cigs much anymore, but sometimes you see someone smoking or smell it, and you're right back there ready to buy a pack. I hate that I became addicted to those things.N E Way! Late.
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Comment #4 posted by Pontifex on May 25, 2001 at 10:41:15 PT:
Driving that SUV, high on THC
I've logged at least 25,000 miles on California freeways while high. I have never had a single incident with other drivers or with law enforcement. And mind you, this is on the 5 freeway, where the flow of traffic is generally 80mph or faster.I can comfortably say that I'm a much more patient and focused driver after smoking, especially on long, solitary trips. And I would much rather be on a road filled with experienced stoner drivers than one with the usual airheaded, distracted and angry sort.I firmly believe that marijuana will eventually be found to REDUCE auto accidents among experienced smokers. But we'll have to wait a long, long, long time for that study. Until then you'll have to take my word for it. :)
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Comment #3 posted by Imprint on May 25, 2001 at 09:57:59 PT
Comments/Questions
Marijuana and driving is just another issue the aints don’t want to admit to.  People do drive more carefully when driving. I believe because marijuana mellows a person (unlike alcohol) they do drive more slowly and drive with less aggression. I can remember saying to myself “let him pass” or “I’ll just get out of the way” when driving with marijuana. But, in the last year and a half since I have quite smoking I have become more aggressive. I constantly have to remind my self to slow down or make sure I turn on the cruse control.  Now, on the negative side there is a threshold with marijuana where one can get too high and maintaining speed is very difficult. I would drive slower and slower and slower, until I noticed I was getting pass like crazy. Also, I believe that this issue is discussed in “Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts”. This sure is a great book. I constantly suggest this book as a counter point in MA meetings when I hear folks parrot lies from the government. To address the topic of blood pressure, I donated blood yesterday and the technician evaluating me before the donation was concerned about my elevated blood pressure. I have never had any mention of high blood pressure in my life but without using I now get a mention of it. Dose this support Dan B’s question or is it a coincidence? Just thinking out loud.  One last though, I wonder if marijuana would be effective in helping someone quit smoking cigarettes as well? 
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 25, 2001 at 09:04:47 PT
Right Again Dan
Cannabis could be used to help people off of alcohol I agree.
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Comment #1 posted by Dan B on May 25, 2001 at 08:55:21 PT
Pot and Alcohol Go Together?
Most people I have known who smoke the herb stay away from alcohol. The only reason to get drunk while getting stoned is if you have some really crappy weed.Marijuana gives one a much more pleasant, relaxed high than alcohol--by far. Frankly, if marijuana were legal, I'd vow to never again touch a drop of alcohol. What reason would I have for doing so? Besides, alcohol is bad for people with high blood pressure (I was diagnosed with borderline high blood pressure yesterday), but marijuana is known to lower blood pressure (please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this, Dr. Russo). I'd go with lowering blood pressure any day.If marijuana were legal, I think that a lot of alcoholics would find a welcome friend in marijuana, as it has been used by some to help them beat their alcohol addictions. It has also been used to help people break their hard drug addictions. So, it has the potential to be somewhat of a cure for the problems many now have with truly dangerous drugs and should never have obtained its current "political pariah" status.I've gotten off-topic here, so give me a second to get back one. Alcohol does not make a marijuana high any better; in fact, it can change it from a very pleasant experience to a very unpleasant one. The message should be, "If you smoke, please don't drink." Dan B
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