Pubdate: Sat, 24 May 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Cynthia P. Kulp
Page: 23A

STUDY DIDN'T PIN ACCIDENTS ON POT

Re: "No doubt about stoned driving," May 17 editorial.

The Denver Post's editorial board claims that there is "no doubt 
about stoned driving," responding to a recent study of fatal 
accidents that shows an increase in the number of drivers testing 
positive for marijuana use in Colorado. However, the editorial's 
conclusions about how much of a public safety problem this is don't 
seem to jibe with the explanation given by the study's authors.

The study states clearly that the percentage of drivers testing 
positive for marijuana was not an indication that they were impaired 
at the time of the accident, did not mean that the driver was at 
fault, or that their marijuana usage caused the accidents. "The 
primary result of this study may simply reflect a general increase in 
marijuana use during this time period," the authors wrote.

There is enough misinformation out there about marijuana without 
adding to it by drawing invalid conclusions from scientific data. 
While no reasonable person would advise using marijuana and driving a 
vehicle, the degree of impairment it actually causes and at what 
nanogram level are very much up for debate.

Cynthia P. Kulp,

Colorado Springs
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