Marijuana: Impairing Drivers - Research Proposal Example

Marijuana: Impairing Drivers Introduction Marijuana is commonly termed as Cannabis due to its source from the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana contains an active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) among other compounds, which is consumed as medicine or as a psychoactive drug. Marijuana is considered an indigenous drug in South and Central Asia. Multiple studies suggest that marijuana has been linked to cause subjective sleepiness among drivers, driving incoordinations, impaired vigilance, hallucinations and reduced motor-handling performances. According to Dr. Samir Gupta and the other researchers, strict regulation and imposition of hefty fines is necessary in order to prevent drivers from driving under the influence of marijuana and reduce frequent road accidents henceforth. The paper seeks to justify whether marijuana causes driving impairments and road accidents among the users. Brief History There is evidence that marijuana seeds were inhaled at ritual braziers in Romania at ancient burial sites. There was similar evidence at northwestern Xinjiang, China where marijuana seeds and leaf-fragments were found close to an old 2800 year’s mummified shaman. Cannabis was mainly consumed by the Chinese for spiritual purposes. The drug was used to assist in relaxation during their ritual meditations. The drug was commonly used in India by the Hindus and Nepal long ago as a herb. The psychoactive property of the drug was found by the Assyrians through the Aryans. Cannabis was used for spiritual ceremonies during the qunubu which is probably the origin of cannabis word. Marijuana can be smoked through its dry leaves, seeds, flowers or stems. In modern times, marijuana can be consumed through edibles like cookies, brownies or lollipops. It can also be inhaled through vaporizer or even brewed as tea. It affects the body organs, immune and nervous system when consumed (Gupta Para 7). Discussion THC being the major component of marijuana causes slow coordination between body organs which contributes to the cause of accidents among the drivers. THC causes acute mental and physical effects on the driver. Marijuana has been reported to cause physical effects like reduction of reaction-time and motor coordination during driving. It also leads to mental effects like judgment impairments and increases in risky behaviors. It also noted that the marijuana users can face confusions, hearing and space perceptions no matter how confident they may feel, which can contribute to false judgments (Nesbit Para 6). By confirmation through a study on how accidents and deaths arise, the researchers took subjects with different THC levels in their blood and later subjected them to closed and open driving courses and driving simulator for a period of approximately 3 hours (Gupta Para 5). They assessed different variables for example reaction time to some specific road situations, distance estimations, impaired times, vehicle handling performances, soberness, brake latency that is, the time taken to apply brakes and body sway of the subjects. From the study, the researchers noted significant differences between the subjects. Based Gupta 6 the THC intoxicated subjects had slower reaction times to road situations than the normal subjects. There was also evidence of sleepiness, impaired vigilance, bilateral travel among the drivers, motor incoordination, slow reaction times, reduced vehicle-handling performances, impaired distance estimations and time. The study shed light on marijuana intoxication towards driving impairability. The study supported other epidemiologic research like case control and cohort studies on the issue. According to Asbridge et al (2011) they conducted meta-analysis on nine varied studies on the subject and confirmed that drivers under marijuana influence have a higher probability of causing motor-vehicle collisions than the unimpaired drivers. The decision was reached upon based on fatal collisions as well as collisions caused by faulty drivers. They confirmed that indeed marijuana has an effect on accidental rates. Low concentrations of THC have been proved to relatively impair the psychomotive and cognitive functions of the drivers. High concentrations of the content with combination of alcohol, have subsequently been associated with adverse driving impairments among the drivers (Nesbit Para 10). Based on Toronto Supreme Court, an individual using a vehicle while intoxicated with THC in his system, can be prosecuted under section TCL 257.655(8). This is because the drug causes nervous breakdown of the user while driving (Nesbit Para 11). Under the policy, the Court does not even require the prosecutor to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was intoxicated. In US DEA (2005) “medical marijuana’s myth” they outlined that marijuana hinders motor skills including concentration, reaction time, alertness and coordination. They pointed out that after marijuana intake, it can last for a duration of 24 hours in the drivers system. They confirmed that among fatal accidents caused in the US, marijuana intoxication has frequently been found in the drivers blood (Nesbit Para 12). It is noted that THC effects on driving are distinct from alcohol effects. Marijuana leads to dizziness during driving and causes dilated pupils to the driver. THC impairs the driving skills of the driver. The greater marijuana intoxication in the driver’s blood system, the greater the driver’s impairment. Coordinating the appropriate optimum cut off and enforcing it henceforth by marijuana-influenced drivers, is way more difficult than the alcoholic drivers. This is because marijuana’s effect on the drivers is difficult to predict than for alcoholic drivers (Gupta Para 6). Canadian Public Health Administration (2005) had a ‘pot and driving campaign’ outlined that even medicinal drugs affect driving abilities which is supported by prescriptions warnings. The organization outlined that marijuana has an acute phase which hinders motor skills for approximately 60 minutes after marijuana intoxication. After the acute phase, it later follows the residual and post acute phases. Gupta Para 6 confirms the residual phase lasts close or more than 150 minutes after intoxication which can extensively impair the driver after marijuana use. This is proven whereby, different smoking techniques leads to different THC levels in the blood system. There have been significant variations in the level of THC among the users from inhaling similar marijuana amounts. After prolonged usage, some people have been found to develop tolerance to the THC component. National Institute on drug Abuse (1995) study stated that marijuana and driving at any single time cannot mix. Their laboratory evidence showed that cannabis impairs the coordination and balance of the users. Predominantly, THC has been confirmed to negatively affect the automatic functions of drivers. Alcohol on the other side, affects the drivers complex functions required during driving. The contrast highlights how marijuana users necessitate road accidents. Marijuana users will be aware of their impairment but will tend to drive more. The virtual confidence makes the drivers to drive, posing reaction time dangers when faced with actual road situations (Gupta Para 8). Marijuana has the major effect of causing random thinking, hallucinations, anxiety, forgetfulness and reduced reaction time which leads to road carnages among marijuana-drivers. Based on Oakley (2004) he highlighted that daily consumption of marijuana can cause temporary memory lapse among the drivers. He explained that even though reaction time may be minimally affected, it alters motor coordination of the drivers. It has been analyzed that Marijuana use among drivers doubles the risk of causing accidents than the drivers who take alcohol or other drugs. The risk is further propelled by the combination of alcohol and marijuana than the individual drug itself (Gupta Para 9). Conclusion Marijuana use among the drivers has been noted to cause numerous negative results. Marijuana use among the drivers causes slow reaction times, minimized vehicle-handling performance, impaired distance estimations, sleepiness, bilateral travel, motor incoordination and impaired vigilance. In order to minimize marijuana induced road accidents, formatted policies need to be strictly enforced while the marijuana producers and distributors also need to be monitored in order to prevent unauthorized possession of the drug. Works cited Gupta, Samir. Exploring the effects of marijuana use on driving ability. 2015. Web 1st July 2015 Nesbit, Jeff. Is Marijuana Harmful? 2014. Web 1st July 2015 Read More