06583fbd   
   XPost: talk.politics.libertarian, alt.drugs, alt.politics.libertarian   
   From: pxhxz@cadence.com   
      
   In article <781c48ca-7f89-4983-817c-1ebd0006f8d8@b33g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>   
   Brother Nate  writes:   
   >Dan Clore wrote:   
   >> The Truth-O-Meter Says:   
   >>   
   >> "More people are driving under the influence of drugs than are driving   
   >> under the influence of alcohol. A recent roadside survey showed that 16   
   >> percent of the people tested, tested positive for illicit or licit   
   >> drugs. That's significantly higher than alcohol."   
   >>   
   >> Gil Kerlikowske on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 in an interview on   
   >> C-SPAN's Washington Journal   
   >> Drug czar says more people drive under influence of drugs than alcohol   
   >> Rated: Half-True   
      
   >Clearly there's some spin involved in the interpretation of these   
   >numbers, but at the bottom line I've always been troubled by a   
   >sort of folklore assertion I've heard from the pot smoking crowd   
   >that pot impairs driving less than alcohol and so therefore it's   
   >perfectly fine to go out and drive, not just while you "test   
   >positive",   
   >but in fact *while* *you* *are* *high*.   
      
   In fact, pot does impair driving less than alcohol as has been shown by   
   several studies in the Netherlands, Australia and the United States.   
      
   And the accident rate among pot-only drivers is about the same as drivers   
   who don't have any drugs (including alcohol, which is a drug) in their system.   
      
   I'm not saying that it is OK to "drive while stoned", I'm just saying that   
   there is so far no evidence that shows that using marijuana while driving is   
   any more unsafe than driving with a legal amount of alcohol in your   
   bloodstream, and is probably safer.   
      
   Note, though, that mixing pot with alcohol is a bad idea.  The studies I've   
   seen indicate that in combination the accident rate is higher than for   
   alcohol alone.   
      
   As far as other drugs, a heroin or methadone user on a maintenance dose is   
   probably equivalent to a sober driver, where one who is going through   
   withdrawal is probably unsafe.   
      
   Also, caffeine in small amounts is probably beneficial to driving (especially   
   at night).  Same with other forms of stimulants -- seeing that Air Force   
   pilots have been given speed prior to flying.   
      
   It's not just "drugs are bad" or "driving under the influence is bad".  One   
   has to evaluate the circumstances to know whether the effects are actually   
   deleterious or not.  And in some cases, certain drugs may be better than no   
   drugs at all (although in some of those cases, it might be better not to   
   drive).   
      
   Personally, I'd like to see more public transportation, local pubs, and fewer   
   parking restrictions in order to encourage those under the deleterious   
   influence of whatever to do something other than drive when they aren't in   
   condition to drive.   
      
   -Pete Zakel   
    (phz@seeheader.nospam)   
      
   "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite   
    you.  This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."   
      
   					-Mark Twain   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)