Driving While Impaired...?

[greenbuddha]

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Experienced Pot Consumers Less Likely To Exhibit Impaired Performance, Study Says

Thursday, 27 October 2011

 

Maastricht, the Netherlands: Experienced cannabis consumers exhibit tolerance to some of the drug's acute impairing effects, according to clinical trial data to be published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

 

Investigators at Maastricht University in the Netherlands assessed behavioral performance following THC administration in 12 occasional cannabis consumers and 12 experienced cannabis consumers in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

 

Researchers reported that THC administration "decreased amplitude in occasional but not heavy cannabis users" on certain cognitive tasks, such as a divided attention task. Authors stated that the difference in the experienced users' performance compared to inexperienced consumers was "not completely due to behavioral compensation."

 

They concluded, "The present study confirms that heavy cannabis users develop tolerance to some of the impairing behavioral effects of cannabis."

 

Separate studies have previously shown that experienced consumers exhibit limited changes in cognitive performance compared to occasional users following cannabis administration.

 

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Neurophysiological functioning of occasional and heavy cannabis users during THC intoxication," appears online in the journal Psychopharmacology.

[Letterhead954]

Interesting article. I'd never heard this before. I guess it explains why the people I've met that use heavily seem so normal. It definitely decreases my cognitive function. Do I just need to use more?

[The Digital Nomad]

Good point raised here:

 

"Authors stated that the difference in the experienced users' performance compared to inexperienced consumers was "not completely due to behavioral compensation."

 

They concluded, "The present study confirms that heavy cannabis users develop tolerance to some of the impairing behavioral effects of cannabis."

 

It was not because experienced users 'compensated' for being 'under the influence' - but that experienced users got accustomed to the drug. So - just like pills - after the first couple of doses, a person can adjust to the effects of marijuana. This means that people can be safe drivers, after simply getting use to marijuana from regular use.

 

If you find that you are feeling 'impaired' behind the wheel, perhaps you either need more time before leaving the house and medicating. Some strains - like sativas could make you more alert, while some indicas can make you drowsy - thats like taking Ambien before going on a road trip!

 

DN

[Inepsa]

This is very true in my opinion, and a decent article/study.

 

The one thing they should have tested/need to test is multiple strains. You do get used to cannabis use, and become less impaired without a doubt in my mind, but different strains do way different things. AK-48 wont impair me that bad, cause I am used to it. But if I smoke some Island Sweet Skunk, I'm impaired without a doubt simply because I haven't been using that medicine for a while.