Stoned drivers are safe drivers! [View All]

[immoderate]

This is an article from a few years back. But there have been postings here of late that reflect the fears of people that with medical marijuana there will be an increase in the number of drivers "under the influence."

Well, fear not!

Stoned drivers are safe drivers!

By Dana Larsen - Tuesday, January 11 2005

Two decades of research show that marijuana use may actually reduce driver accidents.


The effects of marijuana use on driving performance have been extensively researched over the last 20 years. All major studies show that marijuana consumption has little or no effect on driving ability, and may actually reduce accidents. Here's a summary of the biggest studies into pot use and driving.

A 1983 study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that the only significant affect of cannabis use was slower driving - arguably a positive effect of driving high.

A comprehensive 1992 NHTSA study revealed that pot is rarely involved in driving accidents, except when combined with alcohol. The study concluded that "the THC-only drivers had an responsibility rate below that of the drug free drivers." This study was buried for six years and not released until 1998.


A 1993 NHTSA study dosed Dutch drivers with THC and tested them on real Dutch roads. It concluded that THC caused no impairment except for a slight deficiency in the driver's ability to "maintain a steady lateral position on the road." This means that the THC-dosed drivers had a little trouble staying smack in the center of their lanes, but showed no other problems. The study noted that the effects of even high doses of THC were far less than that of alcohol or many prescription drugs. The study concluded that "THC's adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small."


More at the link: http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4131.html

My apologies if this has been posted before. But a quick search only turned up posts with the "hazards" of driving stoned. :)

--imm