Pubdate: Sun, 23 Mar 2014
Source: Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Copyright: 2014 Morning Journal
Contact:  http://www.morningjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3569
Author: Tracey Read
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

STUDY SHOWS FATAL CRASHES WITH TIES TO MARIJUANA USE TRIPLED

Marijuana is still not legal in Ohio, but state law enforcement 
officials worry driving while stoned is destroying nationwide efforts 
to reduce fatal car crashes.

Deadly collisions involving marijuana use have tripled in the last 10 
years, according to a recent study from Columbia University's Mailman 
School of Public Health. The study was published Jan. 29 in the 
American Journal of Epidemiology.

The analysis showed 28 percent of driver fatalities and more than 11 
percent of the general driver population tested positive for 
non-alcohol drugs, with marijuana being the most commonly detected substance.

The study included more than 23,500 drivers who died within one hour 
of a crash between 1999 and 2010 in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New 
Hampshire, Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Alcohol contributed to about the same percentage of traffic 
fatalities in that same time period, according to Health Day news service.

Even Colorado, the first state with legal recreational marijuana, is 
concerned enough to launch this month a new "Drive High, Get a DUI 
campaign" featuring three humourous TV public service announcements 
in English and Spanish of people trying to install a TV, shoot a 
basket and light a grill while stoned.

Lake County Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap said driving while stoned is a huge issue.

"You hear a passive acceptance. One state legalizes, one state 
doesn't, and the federal government doesn't enforce it even though 
it's against the law," Dunlap said. "Others legalize the medical 
portion of it but there's still a black market for it. Law 
enforcement has worked very diligently to reduce the number of 
traffic deaths. There have been big gains made, now they're adding 
another dimension to the problem with legalization. It makes you 
pause. We're not supposed to eat too many Twinkies, have too many big 
colas, be in a room inhaling secondhand smoke, but we're saying 
marijuana is OK."

There were 988 people killed last year in 916 fatal crashes on Ohio roads.

There were 140 drug-related fatal crashes, with 160 people killed, 
according to Ohio Highway Patrol statistics.

Drug Recognition Expert Coordinator Wes Stought, a sergeant with the 
OHP in Columbus, said driving under the influence of marijuana is a 
growing concern.

"In the 17 years I've been on the job, I've seen a big change in the 
use of marijuana because of the legalization," Stought said. "I have 
seen an increase in marijuana use and driving. We're certainly making 
more arrests in the state. Our neighbor Michigan is a medical 
marijuana state, and a lot of it will spill into Ohio. You have more 
people experimenting with delta-nine Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC - 
the active impairing ingredient in marijuana."

Stought added that THC is dangerous when operating a motor vehicle 
because it interferes with multi-tasking skills similar to alcohol, 
impairs your ability to estimate time, harms depth perception, 
impairs balance and focus, and causes short-term memory loss.

"Even seasoned drivers are dividing their attention a lot," he said. 
"When you're entering in a lot of these drugs, it will lessen your 
ability to pay attention. As you're concentrating on your speed, 
you're not keeping your car in the lane. Those types of things."

Pot legalization also has led to unprecedented high levels of THC in 
marijuana, making it even more difficult to drive under the influence.

"They're manipulating the plants to produce higher and higher THC 
levels," Stought said. "When I first came on, there was maybe 10 to 
15 percent of THC in the marijuana, compared to an average now of 30 
to 40 percent THC levels. Synthetic marijuana is even more potent."

Another dangerous trend is an increase in people smoking hashish, a 
resinous substance rich in THC.

"We're seeing a lot more hash, which can increase THC levels to 
90-plus percent," the OHP sergeant said. "They chop off the marijuana 
leaves and strain to get the resin, or use food processors. Then they 
filter that with butane lighter fluid and cook that. It's a very 
dangerous, flammable process, and it will severely, severely impair 
you. It's like smoking several joints at the same time."

Mentor Municipal Court Judge John Trebets, who also presides over 
Lake County's Drug Court, said defendants tend to underplay marijuana 
even to him.

"People come in and say, 'You know, judge, I was a very mean drunk 
and I started using marijuana and it calms me.' I tell them using 
alcohol or drugs makes you do things you would never do and does not 
allow you to do the things you should," Trebets said.

Stought said even if marijuana is one day legalized in Ohio, his 
advice to motorists is to use extreme caution while driving.

"Marijuana is designed to impair you," he said. "So getting behind 
the wheel is not a good idea."

Stought also warned that OHP troopers and other police agencies are 
undergoing more training to recognized stoned driving.

We're getting better at detecting it," he said.

To watch all three of the Colorado Department of Transportation's 
"Drive High, Get a DUI" ads, visit http:// 
www.businessinsider.com/colorado-smoking-pot-drivingads-2014-3.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom