Marijuana-smoking motorists twice as likely to crash cars

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(CBS) Marijuana smokers may want to put down the pipe before picking up their car keys. A new study shows smoking a doobie nearly doubles your risk of crashing your car.

PICTURES: Drugged driving: 20 states with highest rates

What's more, the drivers in the study were not necessarily baking behind the wheel. The study found using marijuana within three hours of driving raised risks for accidents 1.75 times, compared with crash rates among sober drivers.

"Despite being regulated in many jurisdictions, cannabis (marijuana) is the most widely used illicit substance in the world," the authors write in the study, published in the Feb. 9 issue of the British Medical Journal. These results suggest, "that cannabis impairs performance of the cognitive and motor tasks necessary for safe driving, increasing the risk of collision."

In the first large-scale review of its kind, researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada looked at nine studies involving nearly 50,000 people to determine whether consuming cannabis caused motor vehicle collisions. After looking at the accidents and examining blood test results and self-reports, the researchers determined the elevated risk among stoned drivers. What's more, the risk appears to be even higher for drivers over 35. The type of vehicle also did not matter, whether it was a motorcycle, SUV, or even a bus.

PICTURES: 17 stoner states: Where's marijuana use highest?

The study didn't look at what amount of marijuana raised crash risk, but the researchers found that people with higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the blood - which may be from smoking pot shortly before a crash or smoking a lot of it hours before - were more likely to suffer a fatal car crash.

"Our findings provide clarity to the large body of research on cannabis and collision risk," study author Mark Asbridge, associate professor at the department of community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University, told BBC News. "They also offer support to existing policies, in many jurisdictions, that restrict driving under the influence of cannabis, and direct public health officials to devote greater attention to this issue."

In October, Mothers Against Drunk Driving launched a public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of drugged driving, Healthpop reported. Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy, said at the time that a recent report showed 3,952 drivers fatally injured in car crashes tested positive for drugs - about 18 percent of all fatally injured drivers.

NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, wrote its own report on stoned driving in 2011. The report concluded that driving high may be riskier than driving sober, but it's much safer than driving drunk, according to HealthDay.

"Unlike subjects impaired by alcohol, individuals under the influence of cannabis tend to be aware of their impairment and try to compensate for it accordingly, either by driving more cautiously or by expressing an unwillingness to drive altogether," wrote the report's author, Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on drugged driving.

21 Photos

Drugged driving: 20 states with highest rates

[grooves]

I don't buy a word of this study. No, one should not drive "under the influence," but that's what needs to be determined since THC can be detected in the blood stream for a longer period than can alcohol, BUT its detection doesn't mean you are "under the influence." Driving under the influence of alcohol is 100 times more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol---as anyone who has used either substance can attest. In fact alcohol is 100 times more dangerous than marijuana period. No one in the history of the universe has EVER overdosed and died from marijuana. PERIOD.

[nasadawg]

People have been smoking and driving for a long time (1960's). This story is all BS.. Sow me the numbers

[nasadawg]

The only thing in danger are cookies...

[ChiThatIsRich]

Where are the bodies? Again Mainstream news keeping our eyes off the ball. I would tell everyone who commented on this page to get your news from a non-corporate entity like this: http://www.collapsenet.com/

[ks2problema]

There's an old expression: the proof of a pudding is in the eating.

That is, results count.

And if we look at the ACTUAL NUMBERS, in states that have legalized medical marijuana use, accidents went down by extremely significant amounts -- almost NINE PERCENT REDUCTION in traffic fatalities on average for those states.

So, let's be REAL, here, eh?

[bearfoot33]

the naysayers on marajuana will never be 'real',some of them get rich directly or indirectly,some are just tight a$$ED, and many just evil opportunists, riding anything that may work to their advantage. cruising under cover cops ( should'nt we call them the gestopo?)that aways act like they're arresting violent lawbreakers when they know full well ALL are mellow non-violent tokers.

[gratefulweb]

yawn... bong hits and driving = piece of cake. i've never been in accident -- try slower than most everyone on the road -- in fact, i am extra cautions when if i had smoked. this is a bunch of crap. alcohol is so much worse -- no comparison.

[gratefulweb]

whoops -- make that 'drive slower than most'. maybe the bong hits do affect my writing. :) - no ability to edit, cbs news!?

[Hala_c]

It's interesting that CBS puts out this propaganda piece about the dangers of marijuana. It's nice to know that they are focusing their readers attention on what is a relatively non-issue yet they completely leave out the fact that alcohol and prescription drugs are far more dangerous. Of course, if CBS was honest, fair, accurate and balanced then they would let us know that MJ is not nearly the problem to society that alcohol and pharmaceuticals are.

CBS leaves out these facts because they don't want to upset their advertisers in the alcohol and pharma industries so instead of making the truth be known, CBS reports this in such a way as to distort reality and detract away from the very REAL problems that their advertisers' products cause for society as a whole.

Nothing to see her folks... move along and do as your told. Don't forget to pick up a six pack and some oxycontin on the way home.

[bigots]

Well ALCOHOL is the Number one Cause of Death and Injuries on the HIGHWAYS,Im not so sure about pot,What i am sure of is that SOmeone needs to start SUING BIG ALCOHOL for all these Problems and or TAX ALCOHOL 600% more than it is now

[krotec54]

There was a story about a group of American Indians suing all the alcohol industries for the health problems and unemployment in their nation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/american-indian-tribe-to-sue-major-beer-makers-for-alcohol-problems-on-sd-reservation/2012/02/09/gIQAaM9g1Q_story.html

[tmittelstaed]

This is really stupid. Driving under the influence is a crime, whether the influence is pot, or alcohol, or prescription medication, or even legal over the counter medication. Where are the people arguing to make driving under the influence of marijuana a legal activity?

[Overturn_legallized_theft]

The other two studies found that the risk of having a collision while under the influence was lower than that of sober drivers.

The study was released this week in the British Medical Journal.
Take time to actually read the study, it says the risk was lower than for sober drivers!

[KClouse]

Isn't it strange how individuals who profit from exposing half the story? Remember Reefer Madness? Remember prohibition and how much it actually cost the country? How many of these anti cannibis individuals are enjoying a Merlot or a sip of Scotch?
Really? Give it a rest.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Depends on how good it is.....