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Does Marijuana Impair Driving?

But seriously,

According to Leslie L. Iverson, The Science of Marijuana, Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 90-1.

Animal experiments have shown that THC has characteristic effects on the ability to maintain normal balance; movements become "clumsy" and at higher doses the animals maintain abnormal postures and may remain immobile for considerable periods. Marijuana similarly affects human subjects, impairing their performance in tests of balance, and reducing their performance in tests that require fine psychomotor control (for example tracking a moving point of light on a screen with a stylus) or manual dexterity. There is a tendency to slower reaction times, although this is a relatively small effect and some studies failed to observe it. In these respects marijuana has similar effects to those observed with intoxicating doses of alcohol. An obvious concern is whether these impairments make it unsafe for marijuana users to drive while intoxicated. Driving requires not only a series of motor skills, but also involves a complex series of perceptual and cognitive functions. There have been numerous studies in which the effects of marijuana have been assessed on performance in driving simulators and even a few studies that were conducted in city traffic. Much to everyone's surprise, the results of these studies revealed only relatively small impairments in driving skills, even after quite large doses of the drug. Several of the early studies showed no impairments at all, but as the driving simulators grew more sophisticated and the tasks required more complex and demanding, impairments were observed, for example, in peripheral vision and lane control. Marijuana users, however, seem to be aware that their driving skills may be impaired and they tend to compensate by driving more slowly, keeping some distance away from the vehicle ahead and in general taking less risks. This is in marked contrast to the effects of alcohol, which produces clear impairments in many aspects of driving skill as assessed in driving simulators. Alcohol also tends to encourage people to take greater risks and to drive more aggressively. There is no question that alcohol is a major contributory factor to road traffic accidents; it is implicated in as many as half of all fatal road traffic accidents. Nevertheless, driving while under the influence of marijuana cannot be recommended as safe. Studies in North America and in Europe have found that as many as 10% of the drivers involved in fatal accidents tested positive for THC. However, in a majority of these cases (70%-90%) alcohol was detected as well. It may be the greatest risk of marijuana in this context is to amplify the impairments caused by alcohol when as often happens both drugs are taken together. Inexperienced drivers and those not accustomed to using marijuana may also be a risk after taking even small doses of the drug.

Interview with Sherriff Buford McGee

I'm here with Sherriff Buford McGee, of Johnsonville Iowa. We're going to talk about property confiscation.

LL: Sherriff Mcgee, do you think seizing the property and assets of people suspected of growing pot is an effective law enforcement policy?

McGee: Oh yes sir. Like last year we took this guy's car and used the money to pay for our Christmas party. At first it was his car and then we took it. We had a whole lot of fun at that party. There was dancing and a great big old buffet, and there were hay rides too. Daisy got so drunk she passed out in my pickup. You shoulda seen the look on this guy's face. He was all "I'm innocent!" So yeah it's pretty effective.

LL: Do you think asset forfeiture laws have a corrupting effect on law enforcement?

McGee: No, I don't think so. I think we split it up pretty fair. Of course there's arguments like in any department. And yeah, some of us drink more of it than others. Like my boy Buford junior likes to get liquored up pretty early and stay that way. So he maybe gets more than others. I guess we let him slide a little, seein as how he's family and all. He's three.

LL: Do you think asset forfeiture laws might have led to innocent people being wrongly targeted?

McGee: no, because you see we only target people we think are suspicious. Like the other day I saw a man on a pogo stick. A grown man, for the love of God. And I said to myself, "I bet I could sell that pogo stick on ebay." So I took it. Got sixty bucks for it too. Later I found out he had a sick kid in a wheelchair. That made me feel pretty bad. I mean if I had known that, I coulda doubled my money, especially if it was one of those electric ones. I still think about it sometimes. My wife says don't beat yourself up about it but it's hard. God I love her.

LL: Can I have my watch back?

McGee: Hands on the car, scumbag.

American Innovation

As our country passes through its worst financial crisis since that time the bank refused to raise my credit limit and I had to sell some text books I was really hoping to hang on to for a while because I didn't do all the reading but I thought the course was pretty cool, we need to take a step back to reflect on our priorities.

I'm talking about small businesses.

Instead of bailing out giant investment banks, I'd rather the government use my tax dollars for a real "stimulus package." In the coming weeks I'll be putting out a five point plan to funnel our money in the direction of young entrepreneurs who embody the American spirit of individual initiative, innovation, and hot boxing. It's time to start thinking "inside the box" like this group of "young" Americans who we're all expecting great "things" from here at Pottie Mouth.

It's time we got back to the principles this country was founded on. This country is not about getting high or having fun. It's about generating as much smoke as possible. These Americans have not forgotten that. Have you?