Thought and Emotion have a conversation:
Thought: “Well, I think we crossed the point of no return with respect to driving under the influence. We seem to be living in a Dune-like universe of drug users.”
Emotion: “LET ME GUESS. YOU ARE JUST GOING TO SAY THAT ALCOHOL AND DRUGS SHOULD BE BANNED.”
Thought: “You don’t have to shout. I said what I said because I see the results of a simulated driving study by Thomas D. Marcotte and others. * The researchers had people smoke pot and then attempt to drive when they felt they were doing so without impairment. The results were not good news for travelers. They revealed that THC makes its way into the brain and that blood levels of the drug and feeling “okay” to drive cannot be used as impairment indicators. Even after ninety minutes, pot smokers drove unsafely.”
Emotion: “SO, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, THAT STATES SHOULD RETHINK AND RESCIND THEIR LAWS PERMITTING POT USE?”
Thought: “Not completely, but they might consider tweaking their laws a bit and initiating an education component. They might also look at laws regarding auto insurance.”
Emotion: “SURE, FINE THE HECK OUT OF US JUST BECAUSE WE WANT A LITTLE RECREATIONAL POT. I SMOKE, BUT I’VE NEVER DRIVEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THC.”
Thought: “Really? I suppose that if you fall into the average group of driving pot smokers, that means you never drove within four and a half hours of smoking pot. I say that because for many of the test subjects, THC caused impaired driving well beyond the time the smokers believed they were affected. THC impairs even when the pot smoker believes she is no longer under its influence.”
EMOTION: “SO, I’LL JUST SMOKE WEAKER POT IN SHORTER CIGARETTES.”
Thought: “Good luck with that. The study revealed that the subjects’ composite driving scores did not differ on the basis of THC content.”
EMOTION: “Nah! I DON’T BELIEVE IT.”
Thought: “Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do to convince you that THC impairs driving. But I would ask you to inform me when you intend to get behind the wheel. That knowledge will keep me off the roads when you’re zigzagging your way to or from the pot store.”
*Marcotte, thomas D., Anya Unlauf, David J Grelotti, et al. 26 Jan 2022. Driving Performance and Cannabis Users’ Perception of Safety: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JMA Psychiatry online.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2788264 Accessed February 6, 2022.
Thought: “Well, I think we crossed the point of no return with respect to driving under the influence. We seem to be living in a Dune-like universe of drug users.”
Emotion: “LET ME GUESS. YOU ARE JUST GOING TO SAY THAT ALCOHOL AND DRUGS SHOULD BE BANNED.”
Thought: “You don’t have to shout. I said what I said because I see the results of a simulated driving study by Thomas D. Marcotte and others. * The researchers had people smoke pot and then attempt to drive when they felt they were doing so without impairment. The results were not good news for travelers. They revealed that THC makes its way into the brain and that blood levels of the drug and feeling “okay” to drive cannot be used as impairment indicators. Even after ninety minutes, pot smokers drove unsafely.”
Emotion: “SO, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, THAT STATES SHOULD RETHINK AND RESCIND THEIR LAWS PERMITTING POT USE?”
Thought: “Not completely, but they might consider tweaking their laws a bit and initiating an education component. They might also look at laws regarding auto insurance.”
Emotion: “SURE, FINE THE HECK OUT OF US JUST BECAUSE WE WANT A LITTLE RECREATIONAL POT. I SMOKE, BUT I’VE NEVER DRIVEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THC.”
Thought: “Really? I suppose that if you fall into the average group of driving pot smokers, that means you never drove within four and a half hours of smoking pot. I say that because for many of the test subjects, THC caused impaired driving well beyond the time the smokers believed they were affected. THC impairs even when the pot smoker believes she is no longer under its influence.”
EMOTION: “SO, I’LL JUST SMOKE WEAKER POT IN SHORTER CIGARETTES.”
Thought: “Good luck with that. The study revealed that the subjects’ composite driving scores did not differ on the basis of THC content.”
EMOTION: “Nah! I DON’T BELIEVE IT.”
Thought: “Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do to convince you that THC impairs driving. But I would ask you to inform me when you intend to get behind the wheel. That knowledge will keep me off the roads when you’re zigzagging your way to or from the pot store.”
*Marcotte, thomas D., Anya Unlauf, David J Grelotti, et al. 26 Jan 2022. Driving Performance and Cannabis Users’ Perception of Safety: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JMA Psychiatry online.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2788264 Accessed February 6, 2022.
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