Proponents of continued cannabis prohibition have long exaggerated the harmful effects of driving while under the influence from the little plant. When states started legalizing recreational cannabis a few years ago, the debate heated up even more.
RT America reports that a recent study done by the automotive giant AAA has proven what cannabis users have been saying since the debate over stoned driving began. The study admits that in several U.S. states, no scientific basis exists to legitimize current THC blood testing used to determine motorist impairment. This is pretty big cannabis-related news coming from the largest automotive club in the nation.
As most pot users know, BAC (blood alcohol content) testing is not comparable to determining whether someone is high. Also, some people who are completely baked could pass a field sobriety test with ease; while others might fail at some parts of the test – even when sober. The fact that various weed strains will affect individual people differently is not news to cannabis enthusiasts.
The human body does not metabolize cannabis the same way it does alcohol. Depending on the user’s weight and frequency of consumption, cannabis can remain in the bloodstream for a month, or even longer in some cases. The presence of any level of THC in the blood is not an accurate indicator of driver impairment.
“It’s an attempt to try to do an apples-to-apples comparison with blood alcohol concentration,” Marijuana Policy Project senior legislative analyst Chris Lindsey said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “This only backs up earlier research that THC blood levels are not an adequate marker for driver impairment,” he added.
Nine states with legal medical cannabis currently have a zero tolerance policy regarding THC impairment. Which is curious at best, considering those states don’t have the same zero tolerance laws for alcohol intoxication.
Many cannabis users say they are better drivers while high. With more awareness of their surroundings than normal drivers, driving while high can heighten cautiousness and defensive maneuvers. While this is probably true anecdotally, current impairment laws do not afford for any type of discourse on the matter and can always lead to your arrest for DUI.
Some studies have found that cannabis consumption can moderately alter the driving performance of some motorists. However, having loud passengers or music can have the same effect on drivers, so these studies aren’t always reliable. The exact degree to which cannabis impairs each individual motorist has been difficult to test or determine due to the legal issues surrounding the drug. Other factors, like the fact that most impaired drivers causing accidents on public roadways also have other drugs in their system muddy these waters even more. The best summary would be that these studies provide inconsistent and inaccurate results
When you compare cannabis and alcohol according to number of fatalities and accidents – alcohol is the most dangerous.
Just like with consuming alcohol or any other drug, if you need to get somewhere while stoned, getting a designated driver or calling an Über is probably the best idea.
