TPR Podcast Episode #5: Don’t Harsh Our Mellow, Dude!

This study looked at the rates of registered medical marijuana users pre- and post-legalization of marijuana in Colorado and compared it to rates of positive urine and serum marijuana tests of Colorado drivers involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash o   It found a positive correlation: as the rates of marijuana users went up, the rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes in which drivers tested positive for marijuana went up as well Critique of the article: o   Urine tests can be positive for days-months after the last use so drivers who tested positive for marijuana were not necessarily under the influence at the time of the crash o   The article does not stress the interesting point that motor vehicle related fatalities in Colorado declined over the course of the study (figure 4) ~750 fatalities in 2002 compared with ~500 in 2011 Potential explanations for this: Some marijuana users may be staying at home and not driving Some marijuana users may be abstaining from concurrent alcohol use while driving Safer vehicles and road rules may have contributed to reduced motor vehicle fatalities   Review of “Medical Marijuana and Driving: A Review” (Journal of Medical Toxicology) Comprehensive literature review of marijuana and driving using MEDLINE and Google Scholar from January 1964-May2013 Some key highlights from the article: o   Bioavailability of marijuana: Inhalation: 10-35% Ingestion: 5-20% o   Literature on d...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Podcast Source Type: news