In 2010, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence, and since, the numbers have kept rising. The combination of alcohol and cannabis has been recorded as the most common, which has compelled researchers to examine and make public how the compounds of alcohol and marijuana interact.
Researchers conducted a study which consisted of two groups of drivers. One group was given alcohol and an inhalation of vaporized cannabis. The other group of drivers, the placebo, were only given cannabis. Researchers concluded that when both alcohol and cannabis are consumed, a higher concentration of THC can be found in a driver’s bloodstream. Considering this finding — in relation to the amount of DUI’s and drunk-driving related deaths — it seems as though a combination of the two further impairs a driver and significantly increases one’s chances of a DUI or vehicular crash.
The results of this study weren't meant to deter people from using marijuana entirely, but rather to provide statistics behind the importance of smoking responsibly. Driving under the influence of either alcohol, cannabis, or a combination of both, is never worth the risk. So next time you find yourself with a glass of wine in one hand and a joint in the other, stay off the road.
