Harper announces plans to crack down on drug-impaired drivers!!

[Agamemnon]

I'd also question the legitimate effect on someone after getting a whiff of second-hand pot smoke while walking down the street. The equivalent would probably be drinking an ounce of beer... is that going to seriously affect your ability to drive? Has anyone ever smelled pot while outside? Did you get high because of it?

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Yes to both. I'm no doctor, but spending a few minutes in a garage with a running car can potentially kill you so I'm sure it has an immediate negative impact on your health. Hell, you can get lightheaded walking around in a busy parkade.

Was refering to my other question, sorry. CC sums it up nicely.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

I'd also question the legitimate effect on someone after getting a whiff of second-hand pot smoke while walking down the street. The equivalent would probably be drinking an ounce of beer... is that going to seriously affect your ability to drive? Has anyone ever smelled pot while outside? Did you get high because of it?

Well I don't do shots of beer before I drive. But I imagine to a lightweight with no prior exposure to the drug, It could probably be much more potent than you might think.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Well I don't do shots of beer before I drive. But I imagine to a lightweight with no prior exposure to the drug, It could probably be much more potent than you might think.

Fair enough, I guess I'll agree to disagree. I highly doubt you getting a whiff of 2nd hand marijuana smoke walking down the street would get you so high that you would proceed to drive dangerously, regardless of your experience with the drug, but I guess thats just my opinion.

[Igottago]

I think we should just ban cars..then we could smoke up and drink as much as we wanted.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I think we should just ban cars..then we could smoke up and drink as much as we wanted.

Brilliant, I don't see any down-side

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Fair enough, I guess I'll agree to disagree. I highly doubt you getting a whiff of 2nd hand marijuana smoke walking down the street would get you so high that you would proceed to drive dangerously, regardless of your experience with the drug, but I guess thats just my opinion.

Where did I imply that?

If it affects your reaction time even a tiny bit, damage is done.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Well I don't do shots of beer before I drive. But I imagine to a lightweight with no prior exposure to the drug, It could probably be much more potent than you might think.

I'm getting the impression that you have zero experience at all with marijuana. Is that a fair impression?

It's not nearly as potent or dangerous as you appear to believe it is. I don't smoke the stuff -- it makes me puke -- but I've been exposed to it in close proximity about a million times and it does nothing to me.

I don't think you can get high by walking past someone smoking a joint, but it doesn't really matter either way. We aren't even going to be able to smoke cigarettes in public in the near future, so you or anyone else "getting high" by walking past someone who is smoking a joint is not going to be an issue.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'm getting the impression that you have zero experience at all with marijuana. Is that a fair impression?

It's not nearly as potent or dangerous as you appear to believe it is. I don't smoke the stuff -- it makes me puke -- but I've been exposed to it in close proximity about a million times and it does nothing to me.

I don't think you can get high by walking past someone smoking a joint, but it doesn't really matter either way. We aren't even going to be able to smoke cigarettes in public in the near future, so you or anyone else "getting high" by walking past someone who is smoking a joint is not going to be an issue.

No, it is not a fair impression.

You are completely missing my point here. I'm not saying everyone is going to get "Reefermadness" or something stupid like that, but if walking by someone and inhaling a small amount of smoke can affect the quality of your driving even a tiny amount, that is a BAD THING.

Wow.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Where did I imply that?

If it affects your reaction time even a tiny bit, damage is done.

I don't get it... either second-hand marijuana smoke, even a little, is dangerous to other people about to drive, or its not. Is it dangerous? A whiff? It sounds like you're saying it is... but apparently you're also not implying it?

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

I don't get it... either second-hand marijuana smoke, even a little, is dangerous to other people about to drive, or its not. Is it dangerous? A whiff? It sounds like you're saying it is... but apparently you're also not implying it?

I highly doubt you getting a whiff of 2nd hand marijuana smoke walking down the street would get you so high that you would proceed to drive dangerously, regardless of your experience with the drug, but I guess thats just my opinion.

That is what you said. That was the question I was responding to.

Obviously their is a difference in our lexicon, someone who has had a whiff of pot smoke may not drive dangerous per se, but his/her reaction time may be affected in an emergency situation.

When I think of someone driving dangerously, they swrive all over the road, etc.

With a small amount of exposure to the smoke, could it affect someone's driving to the point where they could be more of a hazard on the road than they would be 100% sober. The answer to that is unequivocally yes.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

That is what you said. That was the question I was responding to.

Obviously their is a difference in our lexicon, someone who has had a whiff of pot smoke may not drive dangerous per se, but his/her reaction time may be affected in an emergency situation.

When I think of someone driving dangerously, they swrive all over the road, etc.

With a small amount of exposure to the smoke, could it affect someone's driving to the point where they could be more of a hazard on the road than they would be 100% sober. The answer to that is unequivocally yes.

Ok... I guess we disagree as to the extent of affect a whiff of second hand marijuana smoke is. I'd say negligble, reaction time would not be affected. Its a smell at that point, not an inhaled dose. When I smell second-hand cigarette smoke while walking by a smoker I don't get a tobacco/nicotine buzz, I'd expect the same result with a marijuana smoker.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Ok... I guess we disagree as to the extent of affect a whiff of second hand marijuana smoke is. I'd say negligble, reaction time would not be affected. Its a smell at that point, not an inhaled dose. When I smell second-hand cigarette smoke while walking by a smoker I don't get a tobacco/nicotine buzz, I'd expect the same result with a marijuana smoker.

Therein probably lies the fact that people who smoke cigarettes don't go out of the way to "hotbox" themselves like some smokers of marijuana do.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Therein probably lies the fact that people who smoke cigarettes don't go out of the way to "hotbox" themselves like some smokers of marijuana do.

I don't see the difference. If a cigarette smoked nearby doesn't give me a nicotine/tobacco buzz, I don't see why walking past someone smoking a joint would impair me to any degree. My opinion though.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

I don't see the difference. If a cigarette smoked nearby doesn't give me a nicotine/tobacco buzz, I don't see why walking past someone smoking a joint would impair me to any degree. My opinion though.

Different substances have different reactions when ignited.

Basic science man, like burning tires and wood.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Different substances have different reactions when ignited.

Basic science man, like burning tires and wood.

Obviously we're not going to get to the same page. I guess you believe that a whiff of second-hand smoke could impair your ability to drive. I disagree. Pretty much opinion based at this point.

Though, I don't agree with your basic science comment. Both smoke, both provide a 'buzz' you can feel when you inhale it. I still don't see the difference, I've done both, I think I know what they feel like both first and second hand. They are not night and day, completely different. They're both drugs that noticeably affect your brain when properly (directly) inhaled. Otherwise they're just a smell.

[longsuffering]

Let me start by saying that no one should operate a motor vehicle while impaired. If an accurate test can be developed to test for impairment by drugs, I'm all for it. Heck, I'd be happy if there was a roadside IQ test if it would keep morons off the road.

That said, there has been a great deal of misinformation and 'reefer madness' paranoia in this thread. Shazam - I'm mainly talking about you.

The attitude towards marijuana in Holland CLEARLY shows that permitting access to it LOWERS use of the herb. I guess if it's not forbidden, its not worth trying.

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/thenethe.htm

Use of marijuana is lower in Holland that the US. Drug related crime is less and there is clear evidence that pot isn't a gateway drug.

[Flash Walken]

Are you all simply willing to accept that driving while high on marijuana is a detriment?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Where did I imply that?

If it affects your reaction time even a tiny bit, damage is done.

Ok....I have never done marijuana before....but a whiff of smoke on the street corner willnot impair your abilities what so ever. I think taking a painkiller would be worse than a puff of smoke on the street corner.

[Flash Walken]

So I guess we all are willing to forgo the body of scientific evidence that points to Marijuana not having a significant impact on road accidents, regardless of whether you smelled something skunky as you walked down the street, or whether you took a massive bong hit.

Good to know.