Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana: Harmless or Dangerous? - General

It can be dangerous, you could smoke/vape too much or be do some edibles, get some bud that you don't react well to etc. I however don't think it's anywhere near as dangerous as people driving on prescription painkillers, or benzodiazepines, which I know many people with and without scripts that do.

I doubt it's as bad as driving drunk. But if possible people should refrain from driving under the influence of any drugs.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mby4_NHjVrw[/media]

Driving under the influence of any drug, whenever marijuana or alcohol, should be illegal. It affects your driving abilities negatively, and that is more than enough of a reason.

The only harm I can see it causing is traffic hold-ups where blazed drivers hesitate at junctions and roundabouts and stuff, but generally everyone I've caught a ride with while blazed tends to be way more cautious than normal. I think it should be illegal if only to keep the drink driving law enforced, without people saying "hey, you can drive while high, why not drunk?".

As good a driver as you may be, you can't ever account for the stupidity of others, even on a clear mind idiots will still take you by surprise. Any collision your apart of while under the influence of anything illegal will leave you in the shit even if it really was not your fault.

[QUOTE=Fr3ddi3;42674288]As good a driver as you may be, you can't ever account for the stupidity of others, even on a clear mind idiots will still take you by surprise. Any collision your apart of while udner the influsence of anything illegal will leave you in the shit even if it really was not your fault.[/QUOTE] This is more or less my opinion. Much like in any competitive sport, you want a level playing field. Sure, driving isn't really competitive, but when shit goes south, you don't want to be the guy under the influence. It's probably not the worst thing to do in an emergency situation, but it should never, ever be a consistent thing, even if you're sure that you drive fine while under the influence.

I think that like others have said weed effects everyone in a different way. However when you drink most everyone is effected in the same manor, sure there is still those few ppl that it doesnt. apart from that i think it also depends on the weed with each person. for example ive smoked a bowl of some shit and been mentally fine, still impaired but for the most part normal, but then ive gotten some other weed that leaves you in a mind fuck that is unfathomable. So i think it all kinda comes down to yourself and being honest with urself, and know ur limits on if you can drive or not. Keep in mind this is all about the gangja, drinking and driving i have a different view on.

Going by that, drunk drivers often think they are perfectly fine and don't know just how awful they are.

I've driven high before, the only real problem i had was waiting for stop signs to turn green.

I was with a friend and we were very very high and we ran ~60 through a red light and into the side of a Cadillac, missing the driver by inches that lady would have been broken all up and down her spine oh my lord. [editline]29th October 2013[/editline] Also, I was driving home to Virginia through North Carolina through backroads and I was on this long stretch of road and you could see the intersection up ahead just barely. I'm about a mile back and I see a car pull up to the intersection and stop. It's a 4-way on a backroad and they don't move at all until I pull up to the intersection and it's a bunch of teenagers. I give them their right-of-way and they turn the same way i'm going and they're driving about 15 under the limit until they eventually pulled into a driveway.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;42654121]I got a 99% on my drivers text while high. Under direct observation of a driving evaluator, I was able to operate a motor vehicle as well as you are expected to on the road. What does this say[/QUOTE] It says you got a 99% on your driver's text while high while under direct observation of a driving evaluator. It doesn't really say "driving while high is harmless!" while shutting the book on the subject. Who's to say you wouldn't have got the exact same results if you weren't high at all?

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;42654121]I got a 99% on my drivers text while high. Under direct observation of a driving evaluator, I was able to operate a motor vehicle as well as you are expected to on the road. What does this say[/QUOTE] that you're a good driver

I drive high fairly often, although I feel safe in my own ability, I can't say that it is safe. Everyone is different. However personally I feel relaxed, focused and occasionally a better driver when high. My gear changes are more fluid, my hazard perception seems to be looking further ahead then usual. But I think that is different for everyone. I get high and play games so maybe my concentration levels rise when I'm high. Or I could be completely delusional.

[QUOTE=T-Sonar.0;42652675] Speaking from expierence, I can tell that driving while high impacts my reflexes slightly. Do I believe the impact to be substantial enough to be a danger to other motorists? [b]Definitely[/b]. Some argue that marijuana doesn't affect your driving at all or that the effects aren't significant enough to make you a threat on the road. Personally, I think its a crock of shit. Anything that impairs you, even if its very miniscule, is still impairment. Discuss. [/QUOTE] [b]Noob.[/b] And now you know where I stand. :v:

Everyone is going to be different. I've been driving pretty lit almost everyday for a few years now and have never been in an accident. The only thing on my mind is to constantly be scanning my sectors for any possible threats (borderline retard New Mexico drivers). The last thing any stoner is going to allow to happen is for them to cause an accident or injure a pedestrian..

Driving under the influence is driving under the influence. I could not imagine driving high as fuck at anytime as safe. your mind is just all over the place constantly, although it really depends who you are. but i believe if the whole world was driving high a lot of people would be dead

depends how much obviously there's a point where it becomes extremely dangerous i don't know what else there is to say on this

I drive around almost daily baked out of my mind. My driving skills are enhanced whilest under the influence.

You're DUI when you've just had coffee or soda. You're DUI if you've just smoked a cigarette. You're DUI if you've taken painkillers, allergy medications or just about any pharmaceutical. Ever considered whether or not you should drive when you've taken one of the above? Of course, some of these are entirely optional and taken at the user's discretion, whilst others are needed to help the user function. So why not look at marijuana the same way? Caffeine helps some people focus and feel energized. Caffeine, being a stimulant, has its own host of negative properties... it can dehydrate you, it can induce headaches and anxiety, even flu-like symptoms if taken in excess. Not the best symptoms to have if you're driving. Some people take it in excess and then some. But again, it only fucks with some and helps others function, so.. why not? Cigarettes are much the same way - some people smoke and get really sick. Some people smoke and are totally fine, or better (I'm speaking in terms of one's current mental state, rather than long-term health issues) This can even be applied to alcohol. Have you ever interacted with a functioning alcoholic? It's fucking weird how well they maintain themselves. Being drunk has become a different form of sobriety for a functional alcoholic. Kinda counter intuitive, and they're few and far between, but they're out there. It's not so hard to view marijuana in a similar light. Everyone's brain chemistry is different, so it affects everyone differently, just like cigarettes and caffeine. Marijuana makes some people totally spaced and unable to concentrate - not the best for driving. Makes others feel focused and relaxed - great for driving. Makes some feel anxious and restless - probably not so good for driving either. You get the point I'm trying to make. Really, I think it should be up to everyone to educate themselves about drugs and altered states, because they're a part of life no matter what your opinion is on them. They should know how they themselves react to certain drugs, and to exercise the necessary discretion in using them and choosing to drive on them. We shouldn't pick and choose what drugs qualify for "DUI."

Any drug that potentially slows down your reaction time should be prohibited when at the wheel. If we are taking actions about even Alcohol and medication that slows you down/tires you then there is no reason not to take actions about weed.

If you're a timid or scared driver while completely sober, you're probably going to be even worse while high. But someone like me hotboxes gram blunts on the highway while doing 75-80mph with four people in the car. But, that's because I've been massively comforted by both driving and smoking, both of which I've been doing for years. It's all a matter of exposure and experience.

I found that it would affect my driving when I first started toking (and driving) like I felt I was going a lot faster and once I went into a daydream and when I snapped out I was on the other side of the road... [i]I blame the gravity bongs on that one.[/i] However, now that my tolerance has built up my driving is as far as I know perfect/on par with driving sober. All I'm saying is if you haven't been smoking long you probably shouldn't drive while high

Nothing in this terrible world is really worth driving while high. You could get someone killed and go to jail for a long time, or you could even kill yourself. Impairment is impairment, and even in the slightest, it could make the difference between life or death.

[QUOTE=Squerl101;42839401]Impairment is impairment, and even in the slightest, it could make the difference between life or death.[/QUOTE] In that case, could you explain why we let frail old people drive?

[QUOTE=Furioso;42847678]In that case, could you explain why we let frail old people drive?[/QUOTE] That's not a choice though. You can't compare the two.

[QUOTE=T-Sonar.0;42847787]That's not a choice though. You can't compare the two.[/QUOTE] How? They make the conscious choice to drive despite having impaired reaction time and judgment. They shouldn't drive but they choose to drive anyway, endangering themselves and others. Obviously there are old people who are perfectly capable of safe driving but I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about those stubborn senile folks that keep getting behind the wheel despite mishaps and accidents. They exist.

[QUOTE=Squerl101;42839401] Impairment is impairment, and even in the slightest, it could make the difference between life or death.[/QUOTE] Very true, but not everyone gets impaired from it. I mean I see people driving like shit every day from my internship to home, and i'm POSITIVE these people are preeeetty sober. People crossing roads with their kids without watching, flying over the street on their bikes with a child on the back seat, people turning on the road almost crashing into me when I had right of way, and I can assure you I didn't see any red droopy eyes or the smell of dank. And then people dare say driving on weed is dangerous. Driving IN ITSELF is dangerous. Main thing is really, people I know can't drive for shit. And i'm talking sober. People in general, can't drive for shit, I don't see how being high would be so much of an impact on shitty drivers in general. By a proverb used in the Netherlands: "It's like some people get their drivers license free with a pack of butter" Driving while high can have it's virtues. Less speeding, more careful at intersections, giving people time to cross the road even while I have right of way because i'm more relaxed, and don't feel as rushed. It makes me a safer driver, for sure. Then there's the fact that people also drive while angry, sad, or in other extreme emotional states. I believe driving in one of these states is more dangerous (and I take myself as reference point) than driving while high (note that i'm a daily though, so I've got a pretty good tolerance to it). [b]Edit[/b] THOUGH, I gotta say, I do know people who drive WORSE while high. I'm just saying, not everyone does. In the end, I guess you shouldn't get a fine for DUI from weed. You however, SHOULD, get a fine, if you drive recklessly and THEN get pulled over, AND they see you're on pot, I guess a higher fine should be in order.

If weed dampens your reflexes at the wheel, it shouldn't be allowed. That's all there is to it.

I think weed should be decriminalized and should be treated the same way as alcohol. Drug war is pointless and waste of money. If the government cant keep narcotics out of jails, how the hell are they going to keep narcotics out of a country? They cant. Weed does slows down your reaction time. I remember my first year in college... booze + weed = driving reaction time thats delayed for 2 seconds. no kidding. Haha. Bad decisions back then.