A new study reports that male college students are more than three times likelier to smoke marijuana and drive than drink and drive. Nearly half of college men told the journal JAMA Pediatrics that they had driven after smoking pot in the last month. Only 12 percent said they had recently driven after drinking alcohol. More than half of the survey's male respondents, 51 percent, said they had ridden with a driver who had just smoked pot.
The problem appears to be more prevalent among males. While 44 percent of college men said they recently got behind the wheel after smoking marijuana, only 9 percent of women said the same. However, more than a third of women said they had ridden with a driver who had smoked pot.
Researchers surveyed 315 college freshmen across two universities.
"These findings point to a need for increased efforts to help youth understand that driving after marijuana use is risky," study leader Jennifer Whitehill told the Boston Globe. She is an assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "They should plan a designated substance-free driver or alternate transportation."
Although recreational marijuana use in Colorado is legal, driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous and against the law. The state has a legal limit of five nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. A first-time DUI conviction can result in severe legal consequences, including a steep fine, license suspension, community service, probation and possibly even a short jail term. If you find that you need an experienced Colorado DUI attorney, the lawyers from The Orr Law Firm are here and ready to represent your interests in a court of law. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.