A lot of cannabis users insist that this herb offers a naturally healthy way to feel good. However, aside from the potential for a myriad of health problems, such as pulmonary and emotional illnesses, which may be associated with cannabis use, there is also nothing naturally healthy about the increase in vehicle crashes which have been linked to cannabis use. There are many people in Syracuse who drive cars and use cannabis and this news therefore presents the community with a serious problem to consider insofar as enforcement of laws regarding cannabis use.
An editorial published in the British Medical Journal, "Cannabis use doubles chances of vehicle crash," says that drivers who consume cannabis within three hours of driving are nearly twice as likely to cause a vehicle collision as those who are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The authors, who are from Dalhousie University, reviewed nine studies with a total sample of 49,411 people to determine whether the consumption of cannabis increases the risk of a motor vehicle collision. These researchers say that cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance across the world and recent statistics have shown a significant increase in use internationally. They also state that rates of driving under influence have also increased.
All of the motor vehicle collisions involved in the study took place on a public road and involved one or more moving vehicles such as cars, vans, sports utility vehicles, trucks, buses and motorcycles. The results were taken through blood samples or direct self-report. Results showed that if cannabis is consumed before driving a motor vehicle, the risk of collision is nearly doubled. The authors have suggested that the consumption of cannabis impairs motor tasks important to safe driving, increasing the chance of collisions. So remember not just drinking alcohol, but also using cannabis, does not mix well with driving and could land you in a morgue, hospital or jail.
