cannabisnews.com: Can Cannabis Make You An Even Better Driver? Can Cannabis Make You An Even Better Driver? Posted by CN Staff on January 26, 2004 at 10:50:27 PT News Story Source: Evening News UK United Kingdom: While no responsible person would ever advocate the use of drugs for drivers, tests using a recently developed video game called Burnout have thrown up some surprise statistics. The testers found that a moderate amount of cannabis actually improved driving performance among those they studied. Results from another recent study apparently also show that people drive both faster and safer while under the influence of the drug. A group of 20 drivers aged 21-40 were recruited for the Burnout study, all of whom had not previously owned a video games machine or described themselves of players of video games. Ten of them smoked approximately 0.15 milligrams of cannabis, equivalent to about half a "joint". The other half declared that they had not had any stimulant for at least 72 hours before the test. They were then given a thorough demonstration of Burnout and were subsequently asked to take the controls and play the video game themselves. Participants' skills at different elements of the game - reaction times, speed, concentration levels and road safety - were thoroughly analysed and evaluated. The results showed that for those who had smoked 0.15 mgs of cannabis: * 80 per cent demonstrated superior reaction times * 60 per cent finished a lap faster * 70 per cent experienced a lower number of collisions * 60 per cent reached a higher level in the game. The cannabis takers were then pitched against the non-cannabis takers in a head-to-head challenge on Burnout. In this competitive setting, the cannabis users came out on top in eight out of ten of the match-ups. The drivers under the influence of cannabis appeared to have more confidence in their ability and be much calmer. Burnout is aid to be "a fast-paced and adrenalin-stoked" game and the cannabis could have helped keep them in control of their nerves.. For the second stage of the experiment, the group who had already smoked cannabis smoked some more, increasing their total intake to about 0.58 milligrams, equatting to approximately two "joints". The driver performance on Burnout then showed a significant decrease. With a total of 0.58 milligrams of cannabis in their system: * 60 per cent demonstrated superior reaction times * 30 per cent finished the game faster * 40 per cent experienced a lower number of collisions * 20 per cent reached a higher level in the game. In the second part of the challenges, the cannabis smokers won only three races against their non-cannabis counterparts, an indicator of worsening driving performance. Simon smith Wright, Burnout's Communications Director, said: "The results of our test clearly show indicate that a small or moderate amount of cannabis is actually quite beneficial to someone's driving performance. "Further amounts then tend to start to impinge on performance, although interestingly reactions times appear to best withstand the increased amount of the drug in the system. "Obviously Burnout is a video game and whilst extremely realistic, we cannot claim that these findings translate to real life driving, nor are we encouraging anyone to try out the theory." The RAC's position is that, in every circumstance, the drug is detrimental to anyone at the wheel. Complete Title: Can Taking Cannabis Make You An Even Better Driver?Newshawk: E_Johnson Source: Evening News (UK)Published: Saturday, January 24, 2004Copyright: 2004 Archant RegionalWebsite: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Contact: EveningNewsLetters archant.co.ukRelated Articles:Researcher Studies Effects of Pot on Driving http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9860.shtmlCannabis May Make You a Safer Driverhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6717.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by yippierevolutionary on January 27, 2004 at 07:26:08 PT EJ you reminded me of Fear And Loathing EJ when you said you love driving down a desert road with a joint it reminded me of this.This is very ominous assignment, with overtones of extreme personal danger, you see Im a doctor of journalism and this man is my attorney hes not just some dingbat I found on the strip. I think hes Samoan. Are you prejudiced?One toke over the line sweet jesus one toke over the line.One toke you poor fool. Wait till you see those goddamn bats! [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by herbdoc215 on January 26, 2004 at 19:19:30 PT FoM, thanks and it does help alot knowing others care...so BIG-UP yourself! I'm hanging in there and mining away, enjoying my forced retirement from the weed-biz a hell-of-alot, guess I needed a break, BUT I still check Cnews first everyday to see what Yall are up too! Peace, Steve Tuck [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by herbdoc215 on January 26, 2004 at 19:13:25 PT THC doses are measured in Mg's and that's a pretty 'good' dose there especially for USA smokers as you would have to smoke ALOT of mexi to get that much. Peace, Steve Tuck [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 26, 2004 at 19:12:26 PT herbdoc215 It's good to see you. I sure hope everything works in your favor. Stay strong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by herbdoc215 on January 26, 2004 at 19:09:53 PT They were not "driving" per sae... They were playing a video game which is why it speeded them up instead of slowed them down...what this study shows is the way cannabis effected the "uplink" between raw info from senses and our cerebral cortex, I've always thought of stimulous as light and cannabis is a 'prism' that prefilters it into focused bands:) the process that comes into play discussing driving is called compensation. But the big answer here is the duality of cannabis's effects upon many physiological systems, ie. hearbeat is made slower and stronger at the same time...cannabis can make people hungry or remove the pains and feeling of hunger depending upon dosage, timing, and method of use, etc. During my research of cannabis over the years I have had way too many of my preconceived notions destroyed to think we even understand a 10th of the modalities of action of THC and analogs/precursors, the way it buffers so many systems in humans never ceases to amaze me! It's going to come down to us being brave enough to keep telling truth in the face of the idiocy being spouted by the NeoNazi's these days. Peace, Steve Tuck ps. Still no decision in my case which is overdue a couple of weeks...must be trying to figure out how to send somebody to the 'gulag' who has helped them and given them money for my "life-price" I'll let you know after they tell me what the deal is [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by CorvallisEric on January 26, 2004 at 17:39:30 PT Speed? Everything I've ever read and my own experience both say SLOWER not faster in reality, but faster in perception. Also: the article surely meant grams, not milligrams, for the joints. It would be nice to know the strength, seems like the initial dose could have been fairly low. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by drfistusa on January 26, 2004 at 16:39:29 PT weed, whites and wine the old trucker song yes, it's true, even for skiers and snow boarders, or pilots, it slows the action gives more control, the most difficult and dangerous ski slopes , lots of smoke going up the chair lift. makes one more cautious too. The naysayers think the effects are like alcohol, not at all! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by VitaminT on January 26, 2004 at 15:05:20 PT I've always believed, and still do, that pot made one more inclined to drive SLOWer and not faster - this allows for a critical reaction time that is longer and therefore pot smokers are generally a little safer than average.Personally, I keep to the slow lanes and away from the drunk nuts weaving in and out like lunatics. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by gloovins on January 26, 2004 at 14:57:27 PT Now I regret laughing at this person who told me they knew someone who got a recommedation letter for medicinal cannabis here in California "for road rage & stress related to..." I laughed when I heard that, but there is a little bit of truth in all humor, I guess, uh?! BTW, IMHO this article will get little or no coverage in the U.S. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on January 26, 2004 at 14:05:55 PT Again From the Canadian Senate Committee report which is now TWO YEARS OLD and virtually ignored inside and outside of Canada except by us raving dope-loving lunatics:"Cannabis alone, particularly in low doses, has little impact on the skills involved in automobile driving." (Page 19)http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/rep-e/summary-e.pdfAnd if nobody encourages drug use while driving, why is caffeine considered a driving aid, and why do I see people - even police officers! - smoking cigarettes while driving? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by SystemGoneDown on January 26, 2004 at 12:55:06 PT E_Johnson ANother thing I noticed, not only does it enhance your vision once the high wears off, but I also find myself not rushing at the red lights. It's a level of acceptance that "Im either going to make this light or not, oh well". So risks seem more unnecessary and frustrations are lowered. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on January 26, 2004 at 12:23:37 PT It does Virgil I really really really hate tailgaters and with pot it's much easier to let go of that issue and consign these aggro types to smashing in the back end of SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR NOT MINE by letting them pass right away.I think an interesting experiment would be to see which group drives with a more realistic perception of the actual stopping distance of their vehicle -- marijuana users or non-users. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Virgil on January 26, 2004 at 12:12:16 PT Unraging the roads It has to help some people with their road rage. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on January 26, 2004 at 12:06:35 PT You're not the only one I just love the feeling of being on an open desert highway with some good thumping music on the stereo and a joint to take a hit off now and then. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by SystemGoneDown on January 26, 2004 at 12:02:17 PT Nice!!!! I'm sorry. I just got home and saw this story. I just find it amazing that I independantly came up with this driver enhancement theory. I feel a huge sense of confirmation with this story. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by SystemGoneDown on January 26, 2004 at 11:59:11 PT OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awesome. For a while now, I've been having this lone observation of mine that - the day after I smoke pot, I feel like my vision is better and I make better instincts on the road. This report confirms that I could be right, weed makes you a better driver.This is awesome!!!! I thought I was the only one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on January 26, 2004 at 11:39:37 PT cherry-picking results, links The scummy US Government's response to this, is to cherry-pick results. NIDA will only fund studies that are carefully tailored to emphasize any aspect of driving that cannabis may degrade. At the same time NIDA will de-fund any study that reveals aspects of driving that cannabis may enhance. On the balance, cannabis improves driving ability. On the balance, a cannabis-using driver is LESS likely to be the cause of a fatal accident. Of course we would expect high-handed pompous moralizing lies to issue forth from the US Government and all it touches; we don't expect balance or truth. So don't expect this study to get any press in the US. I wish I were wrong, but this looks like the cannabis-cancer studies that show THC actually kills tumors. The truth is buried in a flood of lies. Thanks, Uncle Sam!---------Cannabis/Driving StudiesAustralia: 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.html http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pot latest reaking pot news [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on January 26, 2004 at 11:13:08 PT: They found my clone ... Results from another recent study apparently also show that people drive both faster and safer while under the influence of the drug. whoda thunk the truth would come out?:-) register to vote [ Post Comment ] Post Comment