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UK: Motoring researchers test vodka-cannabis mix

Ananova

Monday 12 Aug 2002

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Drivers have been plied with triple vodka and tonics and specially-imported
cannabis before going behind the wheel at the request of the Government.

The Home Office gave a licence for the University of Birmingham to import
the drug and then transfer it to the Transport Research Laboratory in
Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Twenty males all aged over 18 and regular cannabis and alcohol users drank
the vodka and tonics five minutes before smoking the cannabis in a
drink-drugs-driving exercise conducted for the Department for Transport.

The RAC Foundation said the research was conducted to ascertain the effects
of mixing relatively low doses of cannabis and alcohol on driving.

The alcohol amounted to a blood alcohol concentration of 50mg of alcohol
per 100ml of blood (80mg is the legal limit).

The main findings included respondents being aware of their impairment and
trying to compensate by driving more slowly.

It was also found that the effects of cannabis and alcohol together were
greater than with cannabis alone.

There was no evidence that either alcohol or cannabis offset the effect of
the other.

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "This research
should now convince Government that they need to launch nation wide
publicity campaigns warning of the dangers of drug driving.

"Even with relatively low doses of cannabis and alcohol drivers are at
danger of veering out of their lane and causing fatal accidents. Despite
the fact that the cannabis drivers drove more slowly, this did not
compensate for their poor eye/hand co-ordination."

 

 

 

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