Pubdate: April 1 1999
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Section: News page 15

POT HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON DRIVING,STUDY SAYS

People who smoke moderate amounts of marijuana are not much more
dangerous behind the wheel than completely sober drivers, Canadian
researchers said Wednesday.

They said that the hazards of smoking marijuana had been overrated,
and that while the drug should not be legalized, drivers who smoke it
and drive should not be demonized.

University of Toronto researcher Alison Smiley said, she compared
several studies that looked into how serious the impairment was from
marijuana compared to alcohol, which clearly affects driving ability.

"Both substances impair performances," Smiley said in a
statement.

"However, the more cautious behavior of subjects who received
marijuana decreases the drug's impact on performance. Their behavior
is more appropriate to their impairment, whereas subjects who received
alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner." 
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