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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.
When I was a young man, I smoked reefer for about eight years. I cannot think of a better time that I loved to drive.
As for all the other hyberbol, while a inexperienced smoker will venture into whatever mindless direction his cranium will take him, a seasoned head directs the high into an intense focus on what he is doing at the time. "Cleaning the walls, Man" can even be a magnificent experience!
ArrowHEAD>>>----former, that is-->
here you go bud! http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2063
Thanks for that post!
It's not a matter of think I'm not drunk, it's an absolute fact. Tested and proven with the explicit intent of knowing without any doubt or speculation that I will be well within the legal limit for BAC and that I drive just as prudently as I would with no alcohol in my system. Any person with the same body weight as me can confidently drink exactly as I have described here and drive with no impairment whatsoever. Smaller people and those on medications, your mileage may vary. I'm 38, and weigh 225, and I know absolutely without a doubt what my BAC will be 1 hour after 2 drinks with a meal
And regardless of what you personally think is childish, the fact is using any substance with the intent of altering your state of perception is in fact abuse. Dismiss it if you wish, but my facts are rock solid.
LOL! I've been told the story of an in-law who got stopped on a highway by state police for going too slow. It was late, it was dark, he was stoned on pot and the cop let him go with the warning that, if there had been traffic, driving 35 in a 60 mph zone might not be too wise.
have you ever considered that a lot of siber people are about as worst...my sister as per exemple...
i quit a while ago...if i am making mistakes it is because i am at the office writing fast and i am still learning english! i am sorry for the inconvenience it might create!
say what?
You are gonna have to back that statement up. Most children over the age of 6 in this country have had a sip of alcohol from time to time. When do they become "experienced"? Is it after you've had your first black out or what?
Thanks lady jag for checking in!
You sound like you've been sucking weed...
"Back up" what, that alcohol affects the body from the first sip? That's a simple biochemical fact that I'm surprised you don't understand, apparently. And if you don't understand the body's tolerance of alcohol and other drugs, I think you should read more, post less, on this subject.
have you ever considered that a lot of sober people are about as worst...my sister as per exemple...
sorry i was writing that in reference to your space cadet friend! my sister has never tried drugs, i've always discouraged her against it...but gees! i went driving with her and she is a dangereous one!! she is some kind of spacey as she oftenly, like you said, doesn't even answer my questions!! so my point is that yes, some people are totally dumba*s under the influence of pot but it would be wrong to say that there is more "pothead" dumba*s than drunk dumba*s!
Even if a lot of independant studies are showing that alchool is more harmful than pot, people still sticks to the "it's ridiculous" to compare them!
i did actually, and I quit, tired of it! So what's your point? you sound like a nazi!
Have you ever tried Pot??
What is your first language? :) and be careful of making fun of women drivers, you might get attacked by some women here that don't appreciate it. :D
really interesting study that didn't use simulator...
http://mojo.calyx.net/~olsen/HEMP/IHA/iha01206.html
French!! an i tried to learn german before english!! So i am getting totally mixed up sometime!
Yeah thanks for the tip i'll be careful!!
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