Rhandi Rhodes Dead Wrong on Pot Smoking While Driving Message

I listen to Air America fairly often for as long as I can stand it... it's sorta my own version of self torture.
There is a commercial airing for the Randi Rhodes show endorsing the use of marijuana while driving where Randi says that we should legalize pot because nobody ever died in an accident while smoking pot... they just drive with their seat-belt hanging out, driving too slow which is annoying, but not dangerous, adding "nobody ever died while smoking pot".
Thanks for looking out for our young people Randi, instead of pandering to them so they will like you... NOT.

From The Research Report Series on Marijuana from the NIDA

"Through its effects on the brain and body, marijuana intoxication can cause accidents. Studies show that approximately 6 to 11 percent of fatal accident victims test positive for THC. In many of these cases, alcohol is detected as well.^{34, 35, 36} In a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a moderate dose of marijuana alone was shown to impair driving performance; however, the effects of even a low dose of marijuana combined with alcohol were markedly greater than for either drug alone³⁷

Other Health Issues with Pot...

Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke.⁴ A study comparing 173 cancer patients and 176 healthy individuals produced strong evidence that smoking marijuana increases the likelihood of developing cancer of the head or neck, and that the more marijuana smoked, the greater the increase.¹⁷ A statistical analysis of the data suggested that marijuana smoking doubled or tripled the risk of these cancers.

Marijuana has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because it contains irritants and carcinogens.⁴⁰ In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.⁴¹ It also produces high levels of an enzyme that converts certain hydrocarbons into their carcinogenic form, levels that may accelerate the changes that ultimately produce malignant cells.⁴² Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which increases the lungs' exposure to carcinogenic smoke. These facts suggest that, puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of cancer more than smoking tobacco does.

Some adverse health effects caused by marijuana may occur because THC impairs the immune system's ability to fight off infectious diseases and cancer. In laboratory experiments that exposed animal and human cells to THC or other marijuana ingredients, the normal disease-preventing reactions of many of the key types of immune cells were inhibited.¹⁶ In other studies, mice exposed to THC or related substances were more likely than unexposed mice to develop bacterial infections and tumors.^14,43

One study has indicated that a person's risk of heart attack during the first hour after smoking marijuana is four times his or her usual risk.⁴⁴ The researchers suggest that a heart attack might occur, in part, because marijuana raises blood pressure and heart rate and reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.

Another study done in France in 2005 found that... "Marijuana Raises Risk of Fatal Car Crash"

Dec. 1, 2005 - People who drive after using marijuana are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash.

French researchers studied all drivers involved in fatal car crashes over a two-year period and found 7% tested positive for marijuana, including nearly 3% who tested positive for a combination of marijuana and alcohol.

Although marijuana's share of fatal crashes is much lower than those attributed to alcohol, researchers say the results show that marijuana use, even in low doses, significantly increases the risk of fatal car accidents.

More Pot, More Deaths

In the study, published in the medical journal BMJ, researchers reviewed information on 10,748 drivers who were involved in fatal car crashes and took required tests for drugs and alcohol.

Twice as many drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for marijuana compared with a group of other drivers.

Researchers say about 2.5% of the fatal crashes were attributable to marijuana compared with nearly 29% attributable to alcohol.

The study also showed that drivers who tested positive for marijuana were more than three times as likely to be responsible for the fatal car crash. Researchers say the likelihood of being at fault increased as the blood concentration of marijuana increased.

Proving once again that those on the left have no interest in the truth or in whats best for our youth or our society and that those on the left will say absolutely anything to pander to their audience.

I lived through the 60's and 70's and I can tell you first hand we should NOT be telling our children lies about the dangers of drugs... even pot, just to be their best friend. Driving under the influence of pot (while high) can get you and your friends killed almost as fast as driving drunk. That is the truth and Air America, Randi Rhodes and company should be held accountable for their endorsement of smoking pot while driving.

-red