cannabisnews.com: Paranoid Pot Smokers 'Drive More Carefully' Paranoid Pot Smokers 'Drive More Carefully' Posted by CN Staff on May 29, 2003 at 12:27:50 PT By Shane Holladay, Edmonton Sun Source: Edmonton Sun Marijuana advocates say pot could cut down on the maddening number of aggressive drivers on Alberta roads. An April 2003 Canada Safety Council study suggests Alberta has the greatest number of aggressive drivers in Canada, with 89% of surveyed drivers in Wild Rose Country admitting to at least one aggressive driving act in the past year. "Pot people are more paranoid, so they drive more carefully," said B.C. Marijuana Party president Marc Emery of Vancouver. Emery said he's been smoking pot and driving for 25 years, and, if anything, cannabis mellows out a driver. "One of the real differences is that you're not goal oriented, you enjoy the ride. You're not anxious, you're not aggressive." The survey, conducted by Thompson Lightstone & Co., includes 1,001 Canadian residents, 18 years old and older. The 89% Alberta figure compares to 88% in Ontario and 77% in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Dr. Alison Smiley, a University of Toronto professor who has studied how marijuana affects drivers, said people who've been smoking pot drive more like senior citizens. "It's like an older person. They slow down on the freeway, take longer to make driving decisions," she said. "Where they can compensate for the effects they perceive, they do so by slowing down." But Smiley stresses drivers high on pot alone are impaired. Unable to handle as much information, they may miss a pedestrian suddenly stepping out onto the road, she said. But there's no evidence cannabis contributes to higher accident rates, said Eugene Oscapella of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy. "It impairs you, there's no doubt about it, but when you look at the studies themselves, there's no increase in accidents and that's the bottom line," he said. Ottawa introduced new legislation Tuesday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot, sparking concerns over an increase in marijuana-impaired driving. Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon said yesterday drug-impaired driving laws will also need an overhaul in light of the new regime. "We will come up with reform on that side as soon as we can," Cauchon told the House of Commons. "We want to make sure that we will be able to develop a test that will be accepted by the courts." Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Author: Shane Holladay, Edmonton SunPublished: Thursday, May 29, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Canoe Limited PartnershipContact: letters edm.sunpub.comWebsite: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:CFDPhttp://www.cfdp.ca/BC Marijuana Partyhttp://www.bcmarijuanaparty.ca/Minister Vows To Smoke Out Stoned Drivershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16439.shtmlCauchon Vows Action on Drug-Impaired Drivinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16432.shtmlCops Now Have a Leg Up On Tokershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16105.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on May 29, 2003 at 23:41:09 PT I beg your pardon Mr. Adams! Second worse drug for driving is that dang cellphones... I once saw a lady driving a car with two cellphones on her head! Sigh! Actually, make that twice that I have seen someone do that!..:)))))))))I am a pot smoker for some 25 odd years and I have managed to avoid accidents from cellphone users yappin their head off. I am also a deaf father of a hearing son who loves his cellphone. Every time, I tried to communicate with him when he's on phone, he would get all pissed off. He would say, "Dad, Not when I am on phone!"ARRRGggggg, that ole nazi attitude in me, bannnnn that dang cellphones.:(((( I personally have seen thousands of tokers on the road and they always drive just fine. So they say pot smokers drive like senior folks! And still, it might be a danger of a pot smoker not stopping in time because a fool decided to walk into the road!GASSSSPPPPPP!, BAnnnnnnnn the old folks from driving!!! I am very sure it also happens to senior folks!....:))))))P:)))))))))Gotta me a smelly bowl to fire up! Oh, don't worry, I won't drive tonight!pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on May 29, 2003 at 14:00:16 PT More truth! I never cease to be amazed how how much truth gets into the media in Canada! Editorials scolding the government for NOT legalizing, now this.IMO the second most dangerous drug for driving (after alcohol) is CAFFIENE. The worst drivers are out from 730-9 and 4-6. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by paulpeterson on May 29, 2003 at 13:57:37 PT darwin Regarding your comment about Illinois drivers, I have spoken with hundreds of police about this: COPS ALL KNOW that cannabis doesn't impair by itself, nor are dopers at all aggressive with the road or with officers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by observer on May 29, 2003 at 13:39:36 PT Cannabis/Driving Studies Australia: No Proof Cannabis Put Drivers At Risk (2001) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1849/a09.htmlUK: Cannabis May Make You A Safer Driver (2000) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1161/a02.html University Of Toronto Study Shows Marijuana Not A Factor In Driving Accidents (1999) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases\1999\03\990325110700.htm Australia: Cannabis Crash Risk Less: Study (1998) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n945/a08.html Australia: Study Goes to Pot (1998) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n947/a06.htmletc. http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pot [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by darwin on May 29, 2003 at 12:58:23 PT MN drivers MN drivers are better than Illinios drivers. Driving through Chicago is a white knuckle experience. It's like there's no speed limit and it's always rush hour traffic. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on May 29, 2003 at 12:44:20 PT loony drivers As a schmuck from hicktown, the way I like it, I drove to Minneapolis, Minnesota here sometime back. Now I know why the state bird is the Loon.Nothing against average Minnesotans, just the way they drive.Those drivers up there could use a couple of hits of killer bud. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment