In the same study, 27 percent of parents surveyed believe it to be legal as well. The study found that while 93 percent of parents think driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous, only 76 percent feel that driving under the influence of marijuana is dangerous.
Overall, the study indicates that teens are receiving mixed messages about the dangers of marijuana use and driving, potentially putting themselves and others at risk, particularly with a quarter of teens (22 percent) admitting that driving under the influence of marijuana is common among their friends. Furthermore, only 73 percent of teens think that marijuana makes someone a worse driver while 88 percent feel the same about alcohol.
However, marijuana use has a direct impact on your body, similar to alcohol. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, effects include:
- altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors)
- altered sense of time
- changes in mood
- impaired body movement
- difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
- impaired memory
- hallucinations (when taken in high doses)
- delusions (when taken in high doses
- psychosis (when taken in high doses)
“Driving under the influence of marijuana significantly impairs motor coordination, judgment and reaction time,” said Mike Sample, MS, CSP, Lead Driving Safety Expert and Technical Consultant at Liberty Mutual in a news release. “Parents and teens alike must appreciate the importance of not driving under the influence of marijuana to help keep everyone safe on the road.”
