Marijuana and Driving
April 21, 2009 4:00 AM Subscribe
The American Journal On Addictions recently published findings from a Yale University School of Medicine study involving driving and marijuana use. I read this rather interesting article on something wild. It seems that marijuana actually has a positive effect on driving. Hmm...
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is a really crappy way to make a post. A "Hmm..."-laden link to a blog entry that briefly summarizes a study without linking it is not front page material. -- cortex
On the contrary, now you begin to understand what a sorry excuse for a drug alcohol is!
posted by CautionToTheWind at 4:13 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by CautionToTheWind at 4:13 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
Hang on a moment -- no link to the actual study, just a link to a blog post telling us what the study says?
Not really the best of the web, IMO.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:24 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Not really the best of the web, IMO.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:24 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
BEST OF THE WEB
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 4:27 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 4:27 AM on April 21, 2009
There was a South Australian study released maybe 5+ years ago that had similar findings. I've searched for it briefly but couldn't locate it.
posted by Onanist at 4:28 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by Onanist at 4:28 AM on April 21, 2009
Got a link to the study, a name, names of the researchers? Anything? Bueller?
posted by ryanrs at 4:31 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by ryanrs at 4:31 AM on April 21, 2009
Has anyone considered the documentary evidence?
posted by ND¢ at 4:32 AM on April 21, 2009 [7 favorites]
posted by ND¢ at 4:32 AM on April 21, 2009 [7 favorites]
If smoking marijuana does not impair your driving, then you clearly need a more reliable dealer.
Reading the article before commenting is a good thing.
posted by splice at 4:33 AM on April 21, 2009
Reading the article before commenting is a good thing.
posted by splice at 4:33 AM on April 21, 2009
When a link to an article presents itself, I'll be sure to do that, then.
posted by louche mustachio at 4:40 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by louche mustachio at 4:40 AM on April 21, 2009
It seems that marijuana actually has a positive effect on driving.
Who the fuck knows what the study says, since this crappy post doesn't point to it, but the excerpt doesn't even say that people high on marijuana don't have their abilities impaired. It only says they compensate better for their impairment than drinkers. "Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies."
Why is this crappy blog post on the front page?
posted by OmieWise at 4:40 AM on April 21, 2009
Who the fuck knows what the study says, since this crappy post doesn't point to it, but the excerpt doesn't even say that people high on marijuana don't have their abilities impaired. It only says they compensate better for their impairment than drinkers. "Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies."
Why is this crappy blog post on the front page?
posted by OmieWise at 4:40 AM on April 21, 2009
I know that I am better able to not fall off the rainbow road when I am impaired.
posted by I Foody at 4:42 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by I Foody at 4:42 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
It seems that every study of marijuana dispels some long held assumption.
In a new study, it seems that heavy marijuana users are more often than not the life and soul of many a social gathering.
Most university students who use marijuana as a study aide find that their retention actually increases with use, with nine out of every ten "stoners" graduating with higher graded than their "straight" classmates.
posted by mattoxic at 4:44 AM on April 21, 2009
In a new study, it seems that heavy marijuana users are more often than not the life and soul of many a social gathering.
Most university students who use marijuana as a study aide find that their retention actually increases with use, with nine out of every ten "stoners" graduating with higher graded than their "straight" classmates.
posted by mattoxic at 4:44 AM on April 21, 2009
The Effect of Cannabis Compared with Alcohol on Driving
R. Andrew Sewell; James Poling; Mehmet Sofuoglu
American Journal on Addictions, Volume 18, Issue 3 May 2009
posted by ryanrs at 4:45 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
R. Andrew Sewell; James Poling; Mehmet Sofuoglu
American Journal on Addictions, Volume 18, Issue 3 May 2009
Abstract[note: fpp still sucks]
The prevalence of both alcohol and cannabis use and the high morbidity associated with motor vehicle crashes has lead to a plethora of research on the link between the two. Drunk drivers are involved in 25% of motor vehicle fatalities, and many accidents involve drivers who test positive for cannabis. Cannabis and alcohol acutely impair several driving-related skills in a dose-related fashion, but the effects of cannabis vary more between individuals than they do with alcohol because of tolerance, differences in smoking technique, and different absorptions of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana. Detrimental effects of cannabis use vary in a dose-related fashion, and are more pronounced with highly automatic driving functions than with more complex tasks that require conscious control, whereas alcohol produces an opposite pattern of impairment. Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies. Combining marijuana with alcohol eliminates the ability to use such strategies effectively, however, and results in impairment even at doses which would be insignificant were they of either drug alone. Epidemiological studies have been inconclusive regarding whether cannabis use causes an increased risk of accidents; in contrast, unanimity exists that alcohol use increases crash risk. Furthermore, the risk from driving under the influence of both alcohol and cannabis is greater than the risk of driving under the influence of either alone. Future research should focus on resolving contradictions posed by previous studies, and patients who smoke cannabis should be counseled to wait several hours before driving, and avoid combining the two drugs.
posted by ryanrs at 4:45 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
I know that I am better able to not fall off the rainbow road when I am impaired.
Beauty is smoking a bowl and N64 rainbow road, smoking a bowl and N64 rainbow road beauty,—that is all. Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
posted by ND¢ at 4:50 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
Beauty is smoking a bowl and N64 rainbow road, smoking a bowl and N64 rainbow road beauty,—that is all. Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
posted by ND¢ at 4:50 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
Back in my youth, I once rear-ended a lady at a red light because I was looking over my shoulder at a rainbow.
Just adding a data point.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:55 AM on April 21, 2009 [4 favorites]
Just adding a data point.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:55 AM on April 21, 2009 [4 favorites]
My favorite Mario Kart course to play while high is Baby Park. Be sure to turn the number of laps way up.
posted by box at 5:16 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by box at 5:16 AM on April 21, 2009
Most university students who use marijuana as a study aide find that their retention actually increases with use, with nine out of every ten "stoners" graduating with higher graded than their "straight" classmate
Worked for me. But then I always assumed most people who graduated from the top colleges in the country with a honors degrees (I was magna at Harvard, smoked spliff nearly every day I was there, way back in the 80s) were stoners. Many of us, to my certain knowledge, were. (And mind you this was before grade inflation was more than a dust mote in Harvey Mansfield's squinty eyes.)
Watch those stereotypes, you know.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:19 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Worked for me. But then I always assumed most people who graduated from the top colleges in the country with a honors degrees (I was magna at Harvard, smoked spliff nearly every day I was there, way back in the 80s) were stoners. Many of us, to my certain knowledge, were. (And mind you this was before grade inflation was more than a dust mote in Harvey Mansfield's squinty eyes.)
Watch those stereotypes, you know.
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:19 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
What? I don't believe it. The last study I saw on the subject had a very ambivalent stance as to the use of cannabis while driving.
Pro: Drivers did a better job keeping good distance between other cars, maintaining speed limit, obeying traffic laws, and being more patient.
Con: Terrible, terrible reaction times.
So, it makes people "safer" drivers, but if something goes wrong in a hurry, then the cannabis impaired driver is much less likely to be able to react. Now, that doesn't exactly sound like driving while high has an unequivocally "positive effect."
posted by absalom at 5:19 AM on April 21, 2009
Pro: Drivers did a better job keeping good distance between other cars, maintaining speed limit, obeying traffic laws, and being more patient.
Con: Terrible, terrible reaction times.
So, it makes people "safer" drivers, but if something goes wrong in a hurry, then the cannabis impaired driver is much less likely to be able to react. Now, that doesn't exactly sound like driving while high has an unequivocally "positive effect."
posted by absalom at 5:19 AM on April 21, 2009
That no one appears to be distinguishing between the effects of sativa vs indica shows that the dialogue has not advanced very far on either side of the argument.
I'll just note that if every driver felt unhurried, hyper-observant, and slightly paranoid, the roads would be much safer than they are now.
posted by Joe Beese at 5:22 AM on April 21, 2009
I'll just note that if every driver felt unhurried, hyper-observant, and slightly paranoid, the roads would be much safer than they are now.
posted by Joe Beese at 5:22 AM on April 21, 2009
I will not say that I have actually used marijuana, nor that I ever drove while intoxicated by marijuana, however I will say that I once waited five whole minutes for a stop sign to change to green.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:23 AM on April 21, 2009 [7 favorites]
posted by Pollomacho at 5:23 AM on April 21, 2009 [7 favorites]
Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies.
Yeah, this is what drunk drivers do as well, and it isn't enough to make up for the impairment. According to my own comparative research on a (relatively) closed course, anyway...
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 5:24 AM on April 21, 2009
Yeah, this is what drunk drivers do as well, and it isn't enough to make up for the impairment. According to my own comparative research on a (relatively) closed course, anyway...
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 5:24 AM on April 21, 2009
ha. reminds me of an old comic strip--mot notably about how to smoke pot in a car.
posted by lester at 5:25 AM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by lester at 5:25 AM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
This post calls for this link.
Kinda grabs ya by the booboo, don't it?
posted by chillmost at 5:28 AM on April 21, 2009
Kinda grabs ya by the booboo, don't it?
posted by chillmost at 5:28 AM on April 21, 2009
Actually some people are asserting that stoned drivers are better than drunk drivers because when you're stoned you know it and don't deny it. From that article:
posted by BeReasonable at 5:32 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.Obviously not impaired beats any sort of impaired, but stoned is better than drunk all day long.
posted by BeReasonable at 5:32 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
fourcheesemac, my experience exactly, except I was there in the 90s. As I smoked more, my grades went up. Although it also could have been switching from engineering to english major.
posted by snofoam at 5:41 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by snofoam at 5:41 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'd like to see the study that compares drunks, stoners and people talking about absolutely nothing on their cell phones. Because my observations run something like this:
Cons: Drivers were oblivious to other cars and traffic laws, and sped up and slowed down randomly.
More Cons: Terrible, terrible reaction times.
After that they could do people on heroin and people texting.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:46 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Cons: Drivers were oblivious to other cars and traffic laws, and sped up and slowed down randomly.
More Cons: Terrible, terrible reaction times.
After that they could do people on heroin and people texting.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:46 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
well, as long as nobody tries driving on salvia, I'm happy
posted by mannequito at 5:54 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by mannequito at 5:54 AM on April 21, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'll add this, purely anecdotal but based on long personal experience:
I was a touring musician in the late 80s and early 90s. In that capacity, I drove (or was driven in the band truck) literally hundreds of thousands of miles. Given that these were musicians I was hanging with, our drivers (myself included) were usually stoned a lot of the time. And it was absolutely clear that stoned was better than drunk -- we'd generally keep our drunk colleagues from driving (out of fear of legal consequences as well as personal safety). But I doubt we ever went more than a few miles without everyone in the van being stoned, if only second hand (the smoke would get so thick that visibility became the biggest problem sometimes!).
(We even had a stoner version of "waltz across Texas" we'd sing -- "I could drive across Texas/with a joint in my hand/I could drive across Texas with you".)
Not one accident in 5 or so years of driving many hundreds of miles a week in large vehicles. And we once had a Texas state trooper let us go despite being caught dead to rights burning it in the van because he "felt sorry for us" after learning how little money we were making that night in the shithole town (actually it was Poteet, Texas) we were in. He asked us if any of us had been drinking, and truthfully we answered that we hadn't (because we hadn't yet gotten to the club).
I felt like Willie Nelson that day.
Actually, for about an hour after we rolled on down the road, it made me believe there might be a God.
(I got over it.)
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:55 AM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
I was a touring musician in the late 80s and early 90s. In that capacity, I drove (or was driven in the band truck) literally hundreds of thousands of miles. Given that these were musicians I was hanging with, our drivers (myself included) were usually stoned a lot of the time. And it was absolutely clear that stoned was better than drunk -- we'd generally keep our drunk colleagues from driving (out of fear of legal consequences as well as personal safety). But I doubt we ever went more than a few miles without everyone in the van being stoned, if only second hand (the smoke would get so thick that visibility became the biggest problem sometimes!).
(We even had a stoner version of "waltz across Texas" we'd sing -- "I could drive across Texas/with a joint in my hand/I could drive across Texas with you".)
Not one accident in 5 or so years of driving many hundreds of miles a week in large vehicles. And we once had a Texas state trooper let us go despite being caught dead to rights burning it in the van because he "felt sorry for us" after learning how little money we were making that night in the shithole town (actually it was Poteet, Texas) we were in. He asked us if any of us had been drinking, and truthfully we answered that we hadn't (because we hadn't yet gotten to the club).
I felt like Willie Nelson that day.
Actually, for about an hour after we rolled on down the road, it made me believe there might be a God.
(I got over it.)
posted by fourcheesemac at 5:55 AM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
See, these kids in San Rafael valley would drive stoned every day at 4:21 (see, 4 is for 'd' , and '21' is for stoned) and then word got around, man.
It's made from PLANTS.
posted by dirtdirt at 6:01 AM on April 21, 2009
It's made from PLANTS.
posted by dirtdirt at 6:01 AM on April 21, 2009
What is 421? Does it get you higher than 420?
California is always ahead of me.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:03 AM on April 21, 2009
California is always ahead of me.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:03 AM on April 21, 2009
Cannabis also leaves you the ability to relatively quickly straighten up. Even if you've just blown a giant honker of primo, a shock of cold water to the face and you're surprisingly unstoned if need be. If you've drunk a 12-pack of beer in the last hour, on the other hand, it's going to be a good eight hours before your liver can process all the poison. Sure, vomiting can help speed up the process, but that doesn't leave you in great shape either.
All-in-all, cannabis is waaaay better than alcohol. Better for driving, better for your health, far less impairing generally, doesn't slowly rot your internal organs, isn't particularly addictive (no more than chocolate anyway), no hangovers, no overdoses, etc, etc. I've had quite a few family members die because of alcohol (mother, brother-in-law, step-father), but none have died, or even been injured, because of pot.
posted by jamstigator at 6:07 AM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
All-in-all, cannabis is waaaay better than alcohol. Better for driving, better for your health, far less impairing generally, doesn't slowly rot your internal organs, isn't particularly addictive (no more than chocolate anyway), no hangovers, no overdoses, etc, etc. I've had quite a few family members die because of alcohol (mother, brother-in-law, step-father), but none have died, or even been injured, because of pot.
posted by jamstigator at 6:07 AM on April 21, 2009 [3 favorites]
From the original abstract, 2009:
Cannabis and alcohol acutely impair several driving-related skills in a dose-related fashion, but the effects of cannabis vary more between individuals than they do with alcohol...
...Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies.
From Science 1974: Marijuana and Driving in Real-Life Situations
...The effect of marijuana on driving is not uniform for all subjects, however, but is in fact bidirectional; whether or not a significant decline occurs in driving ability is dependent both on the subject's capacity to compensate and on the dose of marijuana. For those subjects who improved their performance, the explanation may lie in overcompensation and possibly the sedative effect of the drug.
Not the fastest moving field of study, is it?
posted by kisch mokusch at 6:13 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Cannabis and alcohol acutely impair several driving-related skills in a dose-related fashion, but the effects of cannabis vary more between individuals than they do with alcohol...
...Because of both this and an increased awareness that they are impaired, marijuana smokers tend to compensate effectively while driving by utilizing a variety of behavioral strategies.
From Science 1974: Marijuana and Driving in Real-Life Situations
...The effect of marijuana on driving is not uniform for all subjects, however, but is in fact bidirectional; whether or not a significant decline occurs in driving ability is dependent both on the subject's capacity to compensate and on the dose of marijuana. For those subjects who improved their performance, the explanation may lie in overcompensation and possibly the sedative effect of the drug.
Not the fastest moving field of study, is it?
posted by kisch mokusch at 6:13 AM on April 21, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oh, really? A single link to a blog created three days before you joined MeFi? Topped off with a crappy writeup? I'd suggest you to GYOB, but it seems to me that you've already got one - the one linked in your post.
posted by daniel_charms at 6:17 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by daniel_charms at 6:17 AM on April 21, 2009
It's made from PLANTS.
What the fuck do you think alcohol is made from...plutonium? This 'from the earth' shit wears thin. It definitely affects you in different ways but from my experience alcohol is worse for impairment only in that it has a better delivery system than smoking. Eat it, however, and it's a different story.
Caution: anecdotal.
I ate way, way too many of my friend's brownies in the Calgary Folk Festival beer tent a few years back, and, unfortunately, was sitting down facing the stage, with the exit all the way across the very packed, fenced-off area behind me. Over the course of the afternoon even though I only had one pint on top of it, my head felt like it was getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and I started to get pretty convinced that this feeling was never going away - even though I was also telling myself that I was OK. My friends asked me if I wanted any food, which gave me a rough time reference - I thought that I spent about 20 minutes or so after that strategizing how I'd get up and out of the chair, turn around, and walk out of the tent. Later someone told me that was actually just over four hours after they went for food before I managed to say that I was going home. Impairment, indeed.
posted by jimmythefish at 6:21 AM on April 21, 2009
What the fuck do you think alcohol is made from...plutonium? This 'from the earth' shit wears thin. It definitely affects you in different ways but from my experience alcohol is worse for impairment only in that it has a better delivery system than smoking. Eat it, however, and it's a different story.
Caution: anecdotal.
I ate way, way too many of my friend's brownies in the Calgary Folk Festival beer tent a few years back, and, unfortunately, was sitting down facing the stage, with the exit all the way across the very packed, fenced-off area behind me. Over the course of the afternoon even though I only had one pint on top of it, my head felt like it was getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and I started to get pretty convinced that this feeling was never going away - even though I was also telling myself that I was OK. My friends asked me if I wanted any food, which gave me a rough time reference - I thought that I spent about 20 minutes or so after that strategizing how I'd get up and out of the chair, turn around, and walk out of the tent. Later someone told me that was actually just over four hours after they went for food before I managed to say that I was going home. Impairment, indeed.
posted by jimmythefish at 6:21 AM on April 21, 2009
What the fuck do you think alcohol is made from...plutonium? This 'from the earth' shit wears thin.
Didn't you read the first part of my comment where I said man, man?
posted by dirtdirt at 6:34 AM on April 21, 2009
Didn't you read the first part of my comment where I said man, man?
posted by dirtdirt at 6:34 AM on April 21, 2009
Let's get right to the point: Take this post off the front page and hope for a better one on the same topic.
posted by MarshallPoe at 6:39 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by MarshallPoe at 6:39 AM on April 21, 2009
Dood, try this kickass heroin, it's awesome. Dangerous? No way man, this stuff is all natural, it's made from plants!
posted by Pollomacho at 6:39 AM on April 21, 2009
posted by Pollomacho at 6:39 AM on April 21, 2009
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posted by louche mustachio at 4:10 AM on April 21, 2009 [10 favorites]