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Marijuana Not a Factor in Driving Accidents
University of Toronto ^ | March 29, 1999 | Professor Alison Smiley

Posted on 04/11/2006 9:28:21 AM PDT by davesdude

Marijuana Not a Factor in Driving Accidents

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March 29, 1999

The safety hazards of smoking marijuana and driving are overrated, says U of T researcher Alison Smiley.

Recent research into impairment and traffic accident reports from several countries shows that marijuana taken alone in moderate amounts does not significantly increase a driver's risk of causing an accident -- unlike alcohol, says Smiley, an adjunct professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering . While smoking marijuana does impair driving ability, it does not share alcohol's effect on judgment. Drivers on marijuana remain aware of their impairment, prompting them to slow down and drive more cautiously to compensate, she says.

"Both substances impair performance," Smiley says. "However, the more cautious behaviour of subjects who received marijuana decreases the drug's impact on performance. Their behaviour is more appropriate to their impairment, whereas subjects who received alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner."

Smiley, who has studied transportation safety for over 25 years, drew her results from a "metanalysis" of existing research into the effects of marijuana on driving ability, combined with traffic accident statistics in the United States and Australia. Previous studies showing stronger effects often combined "fairly hefty doses" by researchers with driving immediately after consumption, likely exaggerating the drug's effects, she believes.

While Smiley does not advocate legalizing the drug, she says her results should be considered by those debating mandatory drug tests for users of transportation equipment such as truck or train drivers, or the decriminalization of marijuana for medical use. "There's an assumption that because marijuana is illegal, it must increase the risk of an accident. We should try to just stick to the facts."

Smiley presented her findings at a symposium of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Florida in February. Her paper was also published in Health Effects of Cannabis, a publication of Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in March.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: accidents; alcoholisworse; authorisoncrack; driving; drugs; drugskilledbelushi; heroinkilledbelushi; legalization; leroydiedofoverdose; libertarians; marijuana; mrleroybait; pot; thetruthcomesout; whosleroy; woddiecrushonleroy; wodlist
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To: Paulus
Is pot smoking were allowed on passenger airlines, one could get on and get off, or one could get off and get on.

BTW, that's an old George Carlin line.

41 posted on 04/11/2006 10:08:57 AM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: trebb

"Then the excerpted statement indicates that we might not want to test for pot in accident cases"

What are you talking about? she states that marijuana testing should not apply or penalize somebody who wants to work in that field of expertise such as train or truck driving...


42 posted on 04/11/2006 10:09:13 AM PDT by davesdude
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To: davesdude
"We should try to just stick to the facts."

When people start saying things like this, all bets are off.

43 posted on 04/11/2006 10:10:34 AM PDT by Disambiguator (Unfettered gun ownership is the highest expression of civil rights.)
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To: American_Centurion

http://www.fcda.org/driving.htm

another study i guess that was biaised to convice people pot smokers are harmless?


44 posted on 04/11/2006 10:10:59 AM PDT by davesdude
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To: davesdude

When I was in HS I could smoke a lot of weed and be OK, after while I don't know what happened but i started getting really paranoid and nervous on just a very small amount so i quit for like 6 months... I tried it again and it had the same effect after only like 2 hits. Marijuana(THC) is a drug and like all drugs it doesn't effect everyone the same way. I Haven't smoked marijuana or drank alcohol in over 10 years


45 posted on 04/11/2006 10:11:26 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Disambiguator

Why?


46 posted on 04/11/2006 10:11:33 AM PDT by davesdude
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To: davesdude
What are you talking about? she states that marijuana testing should not apply or penalize somebody who wants to work in that field of expertise such as train or truck driving...

And that makes sense because . . .

47 posted on 04/11/2006 10:11:44 AM PDT by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: davesdude

I was being tongue-in-cheek. It seems that emotionally charged issues usually have a lot of rancorous hyberbole being thrown about, and cold hard facts rarely enter the equation.


48 posted on 04/11/2006 10:16:39 AM PDT by Disambiguator (Unfettered gun ownership is the highest expression of civil rights.)
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To: RightWhale

OKay! But still you got to be aware that pot is legal or decriminalized down there, and some high ranked people will do a lot of things to get it re-criminalized, even lie...so i find it surprising this horrible accident really happened and we didn't hear much about it... anyways, that was only my opinion!! thanks anyway!


49 posted on 04/11/2006 10:16:52 AM PDT by davesdude
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To: Canedawg
Anecdotally, I dont think weed impairs motor abilities as alcohol does. Potheads may do dumb things like drive past the exit they wanted, but they dont drive off the road.

That said, driving while impaired is not a good thing, but weed may heighten awareness, while alcohol dulls it

I don't know about this one, my buddie used to turn into a space cadet after we would smoke a joint, I'd be like "hey Mark... MARK!" and he wouldn't even hear me... just dazing off into space, he did that cr@p all the time i had to forehead slap him to get his attention. :)

50 posted on 04/11/2006 10:16:57 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: davesdude

It's hard to get into an accident when you're only going 4 mph.


51 posted on 04/11/2006 10:18:08 AM PDT by D-Chivas
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To: davesdude
it is sad you use such stereotype such as Potheads

Well, what should they be called? LOL!

52 posted on 04/11/2006 10:18:18 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: davesdude

These are all old studies. Have you got any studies done in this century?


53 posted on 04/11/2006 10:19:47 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: davesdude
Dave, your agenda is too apparent, but I'll take the hook just to say one thing, people who drink and drive are bad but people who drink, smoke, snort, whatever, and drive are friggin' nutz!
54 posted on 04/11/2006 10:20:58 AM PDT by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: davesdude

I don't believe I've ever given driving any consideration in the marijuana debate, so knowing it doesn't affect my opinion one way or another.


55 posted on 04/11/2006 10:22:22 AM PDT by AmericanChef
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To: 68 grunt

LOL


56 posted on 04/11/2006 10:22:28 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: dmz

What part of drinking to NOT get DRUNK didn't you understand. 1-2 drinks in an hour with a meal does not equal a mild buzz.

Every single time a MJ smoker lights up it is with the explicit intent of getting high, be that a minor buzz or stoned that was the intent.

Every smoker defends their "right" to get high by comparing their vice to those who drink alcohol. When the vast majority (overwhelmingly vast) drink alcohol solely for the social aspect of it, where as the very act of lighting up a joint is with the intent of causing some type of effect on their body.

Of course, those who use "for medicinal purposes", and fall under the protection of state laws which legalize it, are not included in my statement of impared judgement for lighting up. Although I will tell you that I am a firm believer that the majority of those with prescriptions for MJ in those places are simply users looking for a legal means to abuse their poison of choice.

When you drink with the intent to get plastered or smoke with the intent to catch a buzz you are by definition abusing the substance no matter what it is. Smoking your weed to catch a buzz is no different than some kid huffing canned air to get high, both are abuse. I admit freely that I have been guilty, even in times more recent, I have abused alcohol in line with my own definition. The problem is too many MJ smokers simply wont admit that using the drug to "catch a buzz" is abuse.


57 posted on 04/11/2006 10:22:39 AM PDT by American_Centurion (No, I don't trust the government to automatically do the right thing.)
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To: DarkSavant
My cousin knew a guy...

Uh huh.

58 posted on 04/11/2006 10:22:54 AM PDT by Trailerpark Badass
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To: davesdude

I once wrecked a car because I was stoned on pot.

No, it was twice. No, three times.


59 posted on 04/11/2006 10:24:01 AM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings............Modesty hides my thighs in her wings......)
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To: Disambiguator

well i don't think this was actually an emotional charged issue, but more a way to say that a lot of statement are made today! http://www.fcda.org/driving.htm maybe this one you will find less emotion in it! thanks


60 posted on 04/11/2006 10:24:44 AM PDT by davesdude
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