Driving while potted, perhaps not such a bad thing?

[Warren Stupidity]

To date, 16 states have passed medical marijuana laws, yet very little is known about their
effects. Using state-level data, we examine the relationship between medical marijuana laws
and a variety of outcomes. Legalization of medical marijuana is associated with increased
use of marijuana among adults, but not among minors. In addition, legalization is associated
with a nearly 9 percent decrease in traffic fatalities, most likely to due to its impact on alcohol
consumption. Our estimates provide strong evidence that marijuana and alcohol are
substitutes.


http://ftp.iza.org/dp6112.pdf
Oops.

Disclaimer: do not drive under the influence of any drugs.

Disclaimer: correlation is not causation.

Can we fucking legalize it now?

[TlalocW]

1. On Penn and Teller's, "Bullshit"

When they looked at the war on drugs, they focused a lot on marijuana, and this one guy who as part of a program receives and will receive free medical marijuana from the federal government (and has a license to smoke it just about anywhere). His medical condition has something to do with bone spurs, which I guess could be fatal, but the government pot works against it with fewer side effects than anything else. The original study is over (even though he and other people in it will get their pot until they die), and it's one that the government really doesn't want a lot of publicity on since it doesn't jibe with their anti-drug views, but the guy is a successful stock broker and apparently even drives while smoking it.

TlalocW

[RainDog]

3. Irvin Rosenfeld

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/RainDog/64

[brewens]

2. I know I quit drinking and smoking cigarettes but smoked weed

like a madman. I was off work with knee problems, ending with a knee replacement so I could smoke out all I wanted! Even doing a wake and bake and numerous bong hits all day, my lungs improved dramatically. Proof that you can smoke enough weed to stay stoned all day and it's nowhere near as damaging as a pack of cigarettes.

I wouldn't recommend someone getting stone their first time or two try driving but I don't think it's anywhere near as dangerous as driving drunk. A regular stoner only get so intoxicated and it doesn't effect their motor skills. You can walk a straight line as baked as you ever get.

I can't smoke the stuff now. I get piss tested at work. I have a few drinks per year and smoke quality cigars now.

[RainDog]

4. btw, for those who say... if only we had a valid test to check for under the influence...

we prescribe a variety of drugs to people for which we do not have an ability to test.

Valium. Xanax. Oxycontin...and on and on.

The warning labels on the packages for these drugs tell users to not operate heavy machinery or drive. Some still do. But people are expected to exercise personal responsibility and community responsibility and not put themselves or others at risk by driving under the influence.

We do not tell doctors they cannot prescribe these things because there is no road test that police can use to i.d. them in the case of an accident.

[B Calm]

7. LSD doesn't show up on drug tests either.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. In all my years of experimentation I never once felt the inclination

to drive while tripping. Even now the very thought creeps me the fuck out.

I heard of people who claimed they did this, and indeed it may have happened, but I really don't think LSD driving fatalities are statistically significant.

[RainDog]

11. lsd is virtually non-existent now anyway

according to a guy who writes about this whole world. the reason probably gets down to the reality that a lot of drug use is cyclical - cocaine and heroin are examples of this.

however, lsd is not in any way equal to cannabis in terms of the effect on perception, duration of experience, etc.

the point I wanted to make is that we do have legal substances for which we do not have specific tests that people are allowed to use for medical benefit and we expect adults to demonstrate some personal responsibility when using those things... as in, if they are exhibiting signs of drowsiness or whatever, because of that medicine, they should not drive a car.

having a specific test for cannabis need not be a deterrent to legalizing cannabis - tho there is a saliva test that is more accurate to determine "under the influence" while urine, etc. tests are not accurate.

[jberryhill]

5. "under the influence of any drugs"?

So, wait... You want people who require psych meds NOT to take them if driving?

[Warren Stupidity]

6. well no, there are drugs that are perfectly safe to use while

driving. So my disclaimer really should have stated "any drugs that impair motor coordination or decision making abilities".

[Karenina]

8. In over 40 years of indulging

I NEVER had to fight anyone to wrest away car keys. An offer of Lay's Potato chips, Dr. Pepper and a remote would suffice! Why ruin a lovely buzz by driving? :shrug:

The issues over hemp, medical and recreational pot are simply absurd and proof positive that homo sapiens are too stupid to maintain the biosphere that provides them life.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Indeed. I've given up on us. Bring on the next top species.

[w8liftinglady]

12. Ok...if anything,I am hyper-vigilant.

Unlike others,I HAVE driven while potted in my past.I was anal about the speed limit...if anything,I drove too slow.I DID stop to look at pretty flowers and get fast food,though.....

[CanSocDem]

13. Before the drug hysteria....

...of the Reagan years, pot was openly traded and consumed in truckstops across the country. Professional truck drivers and law enforcement apparently, understood that pot use had no negative effect on the functioning of this industry.

As the study suggests, experienced drivers performed better than inexperienced drivers and experienced pot smokers/drivers performed better than anybody. The highways and loading docks were mellow environments and even if, like 50% of trucks crossed the state weigh scales in full view of the DOT, feathered hatband roach clips were in full view, they would not be swarmed by the anti-drug SWAT teams of today.

Of course the present day war on personal morality finds it necessary to restrict behaviour on the premise that it MIGHT lead to unacceptable actions. Pre-employment drug tests are therefore mandatory despite having little or nothing to do with job performance. The characteristic of pot to show up in a test, weeks after consumption is also problematic and impractical.

.