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SourceNational Institute on Drug Abuse Back To the Table of Contents ForumsHealth, Safety, Nutrition and KidsRelated ArticlesGrowing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide To Prevention
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Q: How does marijuana affect driving?A: Marijuana has serious harmful effects on the skills needed for driving a car. Timing, coordination, alertness, and performance are all affected. For instance, the marijuana user may have trouble judging distances and may have delayed reactions to sights and sounds that drivers need to notice.There are data showing that marijuana has played a role in crashes. A study of patients who had been in traffic accidents revealed that 15 percent of those who had been driving a car or motorcycle had been smoking marijuana, and another 17 percent had both THC and alcohol in their blood.
Q: Is marijuana sometimes used as a medicine?A: No. Under U.S. law since 1970, marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. This means that the drug, at least in its smoked form, has no commonly accepted medical use. THC that is manufactured into a pill can be used for treating the nausea and vomiting that occur with certain cancer treatments. The oral THC can be used to help AIDS patients eat more to keep up their weight, as well.
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