Find out why driving on marijuana is dangerous and illegal.

People who use marijuana often believe that it’s perfectly safe to drive while high. The truth is, it’s no less dangerous than driving drunk. Because pot affects everyone differently, it’s impossible to gauge levels of impairment. Getting behind the wheel after using marijuana could easily result in the same kind of devastating impairment that drinking and driving causes. Consider this sobering fact: According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drugs other than alcohol are involved in about 18 percent of motor vehicle driver deaths.

Many people who use marijuana use alcohol at the same time. This increases the danger of driving and makes drivers more impaired. When you use drugs and drive, you’re not only putting yourself at risk. You’re endangering your passengers and others on the road.

Because marijuana use is harder to measure, users may not realize how impaired they are. It’s somewhat easier to gauge blood alcohol levels and impairment, because drinks come in standard sizes and research has been done on levels of impairment in relation to amounts of alcohol and body size. Marijuana is consumed different ways, people have different tolerance levels, and there are no standards when it comes to the potency and quality. Because of this, any instance of marijuana use could vary wildly when it comes to impairment.

If you use marijuana, even medicinally, it’s very important not to get behind the wheel. Don’t be fooled by feelings of calm or even focus. Your motor skills and judgment are as impaired as they would be if you were drunk. It’s never worth someone’s life to get behind the wheel when you’re impaired by drugs or alcohol.

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Yesterday, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released the results of their 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey.  The survey showed some disturbing trends about marijuana use among youth. Marijuana use among teens rose in 2011 for the fourth straight year. Daily marijuana use is now at a 30-year peak level among high school seniors. 36.5 percent of 12^th graders reported past year use and 6.6 percent reported daily use. The upward trend in marijuana use corresponds with the downward trend in perception of risk related to marijuana use.

“The increases in youth drug use reflected in the Monitoring the Future Study are disappointing,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Mixed messages about drug legalization, particularly marijuana, may be to blame.”

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana under the guise of medicine and Florida may see a similar measure on the 2012 ballot.

States that have legalized marijuana under the guise of medicine have done so without regard to science or federal law. The THC in marijuana has been isolated and is available in legitimate pharmacies by prescription as FDA approved medications called Marinol or Cesamet. Consumer protection relies on the rigorous research and approval processes set forth by the Food and Drug Administration to establish quantity of dose, frequency and duration of administration and interaction with other medicines.  Smoking has never been a safe, acceptable method of administering medicine. Simply put, crude marijuana does not meet the standards of modern medicine

“Marijuana use impairs educational achievement, has been associated with increased risk of psychosis and recent studies have shown that adolescent marijuana use may be responsible for disrupted brain development,” states Jackie Griffin, Executive Director of LiveFree! “The survey illustrates the need for prevention and education efforts that clearly define the true harms of marijuana use.”

According to the 2011 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 23.3% of 12^th graders in Florida reported past 30-day marijuana use, up from 19.7% in 2008. A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that marijuana is listed as the primary substance of abuse for 31.1% of treatment admissions in Florida and of those, 52.6% were between the ages of 12-17.

If you would like to set up an interview about this issue with a member of the LiveFree! Coalition, please contact 813-503-5658.

The LiveFree! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition consists of members of the community coming together to address alcohol and other drug use in Pinellas County among young adults and middle and high school students by creating more systematic, environmental strategies and promoting the use of evidence-based prevention programs. LiveFree! encourages community advocacy, involving youth, law enforcement, parents and businesses in coalition activities, and promoting public awareness of substance abuse in Pinellas County. For more information on LiveFree! please visit http://www.pinellascoalition.com

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Marijuana is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, and its “natural” origins have lead to widespread myths about its potency, risks, and effects on the human body. However, many of these myths are just that. Here are the most common myths about marijuana, and the real truth:

Myth #1: Marijuana is harmless
Truth: Marijuana may have natural origins, but it certainly isn’t harmless. Short-term effects include: impaired judgment, memory loss, anxiety, and trouble with thinking and problem-solving. Long-term, damaging effects of marijuana use can include: memory loss, increased cancer risk, structural and functional damage to the brain, poor academic performance, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.

Myth #2: Marijuana is not addictive
Truth: According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy,  marijuana meets the criteria for substance dependence set forth by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV). In long-term users, marijuana has been shown to cause withdrawal symptoms; is used even though it may interfere with family, daily activities and school; and creates a strong urge to use the substance again.

Myth #3: Marijuana is a popular medical treatment
Truth: While marijuana is debated to help provide relief for certain conditions, it has not been approved for medical treatment. Marijuana has been deemed a Schedule I controlled substance under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The DEA office of diversion states:

Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Myth #4: Marijuana’s effects are short-lived
Truth: Marijuana has both short- and long-term effects. In the long run, marijuana can have negative effects on the heart, lungs, brain, and mental health.

Myth #5: Marijuana isn’t as bad as tobacco
Truth: Marijuana contains more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco substances, can increase the risk of cancer more than smoking cigarettes or using other forms of tobacco, and can cause the same respiratory problems as cigarettes.

Despite all the myths, marijuana is not a harmless substance, and it can be just as dangerous as any other illicit drug. The LiveFree! Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is a coalition of members of the community who strive to address alcohol and drug use in Pinellas County. Visit us online today to see how you can get involved in this cause and help stomp out some of the myths surrounding marijuana and other illicit drugs!

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