"It was the scariest thing ever." That's how 16-year-old Ashley, a high school junior in Nevada, describes her experience driving high. It was the first time she had ever smoked pot, and the friend she was with pressured her to drive home.
"My vision kept going in and out, and I couldn't focus," she continues. "It was so hard, and we didn't get very far. I told my friend we had to pull over because I didn't want to get us hurt. We ended up outside her house, and I slept it off in the car. I was like, 'You know what? I'm not driving any farther.'"
Way before we're old enough to get a license, the dangers of drunk driving are hammered into our consciousness thanks to school, parents, and TV (it's basically required that teen dramas tackle the subject at least once during their run). But driving high? It's something that's only recently become a cultural talking point, which is why plenty of high school and college students find themselves behind the wheel after smoking weed.
According to a study by Liberty Mutual Insurance, one in five teens admit to driving high; 41% said marijuana had no effect on their ability, while 34% claimed being high actually made them drive better.
Kansas high school senior Gaby felt confident about her driving abilities after smoking on 4/20 ("a cliché, I know!") with some friends. "I totally trust my own judgment, even when I'm under the influence," she says. "I'm very aware of myself and how I'm feeling. I know that if I felt like I shouldn't be driving, I definitely wouldn't have." The 17-year-old "felt a little fuzzy," but made the five-minute drive back home safely.
"At my school, smoking isn't a big deal. We're all really desensitized," she explains. "People are weird about smoking cigarettes, but not pot." And has she ever driven drunk? "Oh my god, no. And I would never get in a car with someone who was drinking. It's so terrifying—it's so not worth it."
Ashley echoes Gaby's sentiments: Though she's driven high, she's never driven drunk, nor would she get in a car with a friend who's been drinking. Why the distinction? Driving high is risky, but driving drunk is worse. Robin Salomon, an information specialist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, puts it simply: "Driving drunk can be more dangerous than driving high because overuse of alcohol leads to impacts that are much more noticeable."
A 2009 article in the American Journal of Addictions found that marijuana affects users variably according to personal tolerance and how (and how much) people smoke, while alcohol has a much more uniform effect. And while high drivers are more likely to try and compensate for their impairment, drunk drivers tend to be reckless.
That's not to understate the effects marijuana can have on driving abilities. As 18-year-old Madelyn explains, "When you're high, you're supposed to be relaxed. But when you're driving, you technically can't be! I went numb. I wasn't sure if I was pressing the gas or the breaks or if I was moving at all. It was really intense, and the colors from the cars and the headlights were all blurring."
In fact, a recent review in medical journal BMJ found that high drivers are twice as likely to get in a serious accident than sober drivers, debunking anecdotal evidence and prior research to the contrary.
And while impairments to reaction time and perception are among the chief concerns when it comes to driving under the influence of marijuana, there can be legal implications too. "Marijuana is still an illegal drug in most states," says NIDA's Salomon. "Getting pulled over can be a big deal beyond the DUI charge."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
