Big Surprise: Don't Smoke Weed and Drive

U.S. News & World Report reported a new study about smoking marijuana and driving. The study by the British Medical Journal found that hose driving under the influence of marijuana were nearly twice as likely to have a car crash as those who were not under the influence.

Studies outside the review have shown that drivers aged 35 and younger are more likely to have car accidents after using marijuana, the authors noted. This risk appears to be greatest in less-experienced cannabis users, younger drivers, and among those who combine the use of cannabis and alcohol.

Although the research seems to be clear that smoking pot makes driving much more dangerous, there are still problems determining whether a driver was actually under the influence of the drug after being involved in an accident. Dr. Guohua Li, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University in New York City told U.S. News about the difficulty of accurate testing: "Because THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can be detected several weeks after use of marijuana, it is hard to determine with certainty if a driver testing positive for marijuana is indeed impaired by the substance at the time of testing, This issue is especially urgent and important in light of the ongoing epidemic of drugged driving and increased permissibility and availability of marijuana worldwide," Li said.

Regardless, the above study documents what we already knew. Drugging and driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving Despite the lax attitude many Americans have about Marijuana, it is important that as a society we remain vigilant in warning about getting behind the wheel if someone has been smoking the drug.

If you or someone you love has been injured by someone driving under the influence, call me to talk about your rights.