Legal marijuana reduces traffic fatalities

Professor Baxter said:
You are either quite confused or you are just employing a pathetic strawman argument. The correlation is between legalization of marijuana or medical marijuana and reduced traffic fatalities. The research supports this pretty conclusively and you have offered nothing to dispute it.

The premise of the thread is not about driving under the influence. Look at the title.

The fact that alcohol is more likely to be consumed outside the home is not the proven reason for the difference in fatalities. It's effects just can't be ruled out but it's not relevant to the premise, unless you can establish that legalization is going to drastically change usage habits. You have provided nothing on that. However, there is plenty of research to support that marijuana causes a less intense impairment and that the user is more aware of impairment. It more than likely is a major factor in the difference.
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Pinhead logic......its laughable....you know when desh agrees with you, you must be fucked up.
 
Professor Baxter said:
No, that does not explain it. Legal medical marijuana is not going to increase the number of people with life threatening diseases.

The article sites several sources that indicate marijuana and alcohol are substitutes for many.
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???? Who said legal MJ would increase sick people?

I'm not hoping to find it untrue....but my point stands. We dont know that's why the difference in traffic incidents is different. It's just one possibility. Sorry.

I'm not buying into stuff just because I want to believe it or want it to be true. (A rarity on the Internet, yes I know) I'm all for legalization of pot and voted for it here in my state. And I dont use it.
 
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Lorca said:
???? Who said legal MJ would increase sick people?

I'm not hoping to find it untrue....but my point stands. We dont know that's why the difference in traffic incidents is different. It's just one possibility. Sorry.

I'm not buying into stuff just because I want to believe it or want it to be true. (A rarity on the Internet, yes I know) I'm all for legalization of pot and voted for it here in my state. And I dont use it.
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Your point does not stand. The traffic fatalities did not decrease because people with life threatening diseases drive less. That would imply that legal medical marijuana would somehow increase their number. It is not a possibility.
 
Console Cowboy said:
I have never driven high. I don't how people can justify that to themselves. There is no way I should have been driving some of the times I was sky high.
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Have you driven after drinking, fake libertarian?

In the other thread, the troll is quote mining a review of studies. In one he notes that on average marijuana was detected in 11% of drivers killed in accidents. Surveys reveal that 12% of the general population has used marijuana in the last year. So there is no sign of increased use in drivers killed in accidents. Besides that the variation from 1.4% to 37% makes the average pretty useless. The review he cites, actually highlights the fact that there is disagreement on the notion that marijuana has a negative impact on driving.

My money would be on it having a negative impact. While a driver might compensate by driving slower or in other ways, compensation would likely diminish with frequently driving high. That is, the more often one drives high the more likely they are to feel safe doing so. Precautions taken due to being high would eventually be abandoned and lead to some increased risk.

However, driving while high is not nearly as dangerous as driving drunk. There is no disagreement in studies on the dangers of driving drunk. No matter what some claim, even small amounts of alcohol can impair your driving in a significant way.

It's very likely to be a big part of why there is a decrease in traffic fatalities in states with legal access to medical marijuana.
 
FNX-45 Tactical said:
A decade of experience says otherwise. It's anecdotal certainly, but it's true. Unless speech is considered part of motor skills.
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I believe it is. You have to be able to form the words.

And there is a mountain of scientific research that says otherwise. I can drink a beer and drive safely too. A few actually. Doesnt mean it didnt affect me at all. (Almost 4 decades of experience.)

If it doesnt affect you...and mental acuity is part of it and is also necessary when driving (perceptions, distance, decision-making) why bother drinking at all? (I confess that I do love the taste of some beverages, like craft brews, wines, and a handmade margarita).
 
Professor Baxter said:
Your point does not stand. The traffic fatalities did not decrease because people with life threatening diseases drive less. That would imply that legal medical marijuana would somehow increase their number. It is not a possibility.
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That's not what it implies at all.

Altho on a different point, it could mean that more sick drivers felt well enough to drive.
 
Cannabis use is highest in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, followed by Europe.


It typically begins in teenage years and declines after obtaining full-time employment, getting married, and having children.


The active component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).


Short-term side effects can include anxiety, changes in appetite, panic reactions and even psychotic symptoms.


About nine percent of users will become dependent, compared with 32 percent for nicotine and 15 percent for alcohol.


Withdrawal may trigger insomnia and depression.


Chronic bronchitis can develop, as cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco smoke. Heavy users are at higher risk of problems with verbal learning, memory, and attention.


Use is also linked to poor educational attainment, but experts say that the cause and effect of this relationship is unclear. It may be caused by pre-existing risk factors as well as cannabis use.


Because cannabis can slow reaction time and coordination, it brings an increased risk of road accidents.


Its use in pregnancy could reduce birthweight.




http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-impact-of-regular-marijuana-use/0005306
 
Lorca said:
That's not what it implies at all.

Altho on a different point, it could mean that more sick drivers felt well enough to drive.
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Then what does it imply. I am sorry, your explanation does not work. The notion that people with terminal diseases drive less has no bearing on the reduction in fatalities in states with legal medical marijuana. Neither does it indicate that more sick drivers felt well enough to drive, which contradicts your previous premise. It's pretty clear that marijuana is a substitute for alcohol. The reduced alcohol use in states with legal medical marijuana is a very likely cause of the reduced traffic fatalities. No better explanation has been offered.
 
Experts conclude that, “The most probable adverse effects [of cannabis] include a dependence syndrome, increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease, and adverse effects of regular use on adolescent psychosocial development and mental health.”

Hall, W. and Degenhardt, L. Adverse health effects of non-medical cannabis use. The Lancet, Vol. 374, October 17, 2009, pp. 1383-91.

Degenhardt, L. et al. Should burden of disease estimates include cannabis use as a risk factor for psychosis? PLoS Medicine, Vol. 6, September 2009, e1000133.

Calabria, B. et al. Does cannabis use increase the risk of death? Systematic review of epidemiological evidence on adverse effects of cannabis use. Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol. 29, May 2010, pp. 318-30.

Martín-Sanchez, E. et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabis treatment for chronic pain. Pain Medicine, Vol. 10, November 2009, pp. 1353-68.


http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-impact-of-regular-marijuana-use/0005306
 
Professor Baxter said:
Then what does it imply. I am sorry, your explanation does not work. The notion that people with terminal diseases drive less has no bearing on the reduction in fatalities in states with legal medical marijuana. Neither does it indicate that more sick drivers felt well enough to drive, which contradicts your previous premise. It's pretty clear that marijuana is a substitute for alcohol. The reduced alcohol use in states with legal medical marijuana is a very likely cause of the reduced traffic fatalities. No better explanation has been offered.
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You can keep writing it but there are too many holes. Some of which I pointed out.

Maybe it holds water, maybe it doesnt.
 
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