Magazine Article Sample - Weed at the Wheel: The Truth About Driving While High

When Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, Denver’s nickname appeared more apt than ever: The Mile High City had quite literally gone to pot. Not surprisingly, voters in other states agreed with the stance of Coloradoans: legalization in Washington followed immediately, with Oregon and Alaska lighting up a few years later.

While many people see the benefits of legalization (or the benignity in the drug itself), one area hasn’t been cut as clear: weed behind the wheel. The question remains - does THC cause havoc for the DOT?

The answer, unfortunately, isn’t a simple “yes” or “no.” Rather, it’s a, “Well…..”

Your Brain on Weed

Drugs have long been hailed as an ally to creativity. Alice in Wonderland, for instance, is rumored to be the result of Lewis Carrol tripping on opium (of course, some people argue that this isn’t true, but unless they have a jar of his urine in storage, we’ll probably never know). Cannabinoids, the active chemical in cannabis, help the brain release dopamine, relaxing us and lowering our inhibitions (thus, allowing things like a tardy White Rabbit to pop up). Marijuana can also reduce our pain and increase our appetite, making it highly effective for people fighting certain conditions.

Marijuana causes our reaction times to slow as well. Anyone whose tried it knows this – it’s probably not something we want to use before a Whack-a-Mole tournament. In fact, a study conducted at the International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety found that all cognitive abilities needed for safe driving are impaired by marijuana. This includes tracking, visual function, motor coordination, and attentiveness.

Impaired Reaction in the Real World

While studies prove that marijuana causes impairment, the risk of driving under the influence in the real world is a bit trickier. This is because the level of impairment is often called into question. In short, how much impairment is needed to increase the risk? Some people say a little, some say a lot.

According to a 2009 study in the American Journal of Addictions, the cognitive impairments caused by marijuana are modest when drivers use it prior to simulation tests. Often, this impairment manifests in decreased speed and slower response time to emergency situations.

What the Stats Say

In keeping with the nature of the Internet, studies regarding marijuana’s impact on car crashes are conflicting. Some studies show no impact; others show that driving while high can more than double your risk. And some simply claim that there are too many variables stinking up the joint to lay blame. From speeding to texting to being in an age group more prone to risk-taking, many factors can be the cause, rather than one alone.

In Washington, authorities noted an increase in the number of drivers driving while high in the year following legalization. However, they didn’t note a corresponding spike in accidents. In Colorado, the situation was more dire: a University of Colorado Medical School study found that the share of drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled in the period between 1994 and 2011.

Muddying things further, a study by the National Safety Council researched the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for marijuana in 12 states. They divided the years into two categories: before medical marijuana was legalized and after. Only three states showed an increase – Washington, California, and Hawaii. 

Some studies are simply not thorough enough to conclude much of anything. A 2010 study in Public Health Reports, for instance, found that eleven percent of drivers killed in accidents had taken at least one drug. That study didn’t specify if the driver was high at the time (drugs in the system don’t always reveal the time of ingestion), nor was it specific to marijuana. In other words, the drivers could have taken crack or meth or a hallucinogen.

For marijuana users in particular, the amount of THC can remain high in blood tests even when the user isn’t high during the accident. This can have an inflating effect on studies, as any amount of THC counts as a positive drug test.

Weed Wheeling Versus Drunk Driving

Though the link between marijuana and traffic accidents isn’t concrete, the link between drunk driving and car crashes is rock solid. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, someone is injured or killed in a drunk driving accident every two minutes. The large difference between the two is that people physically impaired by alcohol, particularly when they’re only moderately impaired, aren’t likely to realize it. So, they drive faster, follow closer, and take more risks.

Marijuana users, on the other hand, often realize their shortcomings and may even overestimate their level of impairment. This leads them to drive slower, follow cars from a greater distance, and switch lanes with more caution. After all, pot induces panic in some, causing us to believe there’s a cop around every corner…and they’re calling our mothers.

What’s more, the impairment of driving while high might not be directly correlated to the risk of a crash. A study published in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal found that people who inhaled marijuana were more likely to weave within their own lane. However, they weren’t more likely to weave out of their lane. They also weren’t more likely to speed. By contrast, drunk drivers are far more likely to do all three.

What the Law Says

Legislation for driving while using marijuana is much harder to enforce than driving while drunk. For one thing, there is no roadside test that instantly measures the amount in your system. For another, THC levels in the blood can have very little to do with actual impairment. For as long as three months after smoking or ingesting, users can still test positive without an active high. Even so, driving while stoned is illegal in all fifty states. In Colorado and Washington, drivers are arrested for a DUI if their blood shows quantities of THC higher than 5ng/ml.

In the end, driving under the influence of marijuana might not always have a huge impact on the ability to maneuver a vehicle. But it’s always good to abide by the old adage: “It’s better safe than sorry.” So, if you find yourself with the munchies, consider a pizza. They deliver.