# If you saw someone smoking pot while driving, would you do anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214 "2013-03-28T20:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/41 "2013-03-29T09:30:18Z")
I would assume the driver was smoking tobacco in his pipe. Every little pipe I’ve ever owned was sold with the INTENDED FOR USE WITH TOBACCO ONLY warning prominently noted. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/42 "2013-03-29T09:43:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I would assume the driver was smoking tobacco in his pipe. Every little pipe I’ve ever owned was sold with the INTENDED FOR USE WITH TOBACCO ONLY warning prominently noted. That’s exactly right! Kind of reminds me of how back in the days of prohibition they would make these wine block things with the instructions, “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine.” Or how the bath salts things would always say “for use with plants, WINK WINK” ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/43 "2013-03-29T09:56:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I would assume the driver was smoking tobacco in his pipe. Every little pipe I’ve ever owned was sold with the INTENDED FOR USE WITH TOBACCO ONLY warning prominently noted. When I still smoked cigarettes I used to roll my own, and the cheapest place to get decent papers was the local “head shop.” Once on a whim I bought a $10 plastic bong-style water pipe to test the validity of the “For Tobacco Use Only” label. Lesson learned. 😃 Tobacco smoked out of a bong-style water pipe is incredibly harsh and causes paroxysms of coughing in even the most nicotine soaked tobacco addict. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/44 "2013-03-29T10:22:54Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > There are other cultures who smoke loose tobacco from pipes and hand rolled cigarettes that from a distance look like it could be marijuana. I don’t know how you could be sure what they are smoking is illegal unless you’re just making assumptions. > [@JLRogers](#): > > How? Did the pipe have “Marijuana Only” written on the side? > [@\_Olive](#): > > How do you know they weren’t smoking ice? These are valid questions. I certainly don’t know for sure. I did clearly see him smoking from a pot pipe. I’ve smoked a lot myself in my earlier years and am very familiar with the type of pipe I saw. Also, the reason I saw it that clearly was because he ducked his head down between the driver seat and door and turned his head while he inhaled, so I got a clear look. I have no idea what was in the pipe. It could have been ice and he just didn’t want anyone seeing him. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/45 "2013-03-29T10:27:33Z")
By the way, this isn’t a “Is pot bad?” thread. I would have asked the same question if the guy was sipping from a bottle of Jack, or whatever. It is interesting seeing people’s responses though. A few months ago I saw a woman steering her car with her knees while she ate what looked like breakfast cereal with a spoon from a bowl while she had her phone tucked to her ear. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/46 "2013-03-29T15:23:37Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > I bet if I ran a study on people who drank one beer and then drove, I could produce similar results that say “When alcohol is consumed, there is little to no effect on driving,” even though we know that’s crap when speaking in generalities. So either the study itself is bad or the article is. Maybe you should read the study. ---
**Author:** ![romadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@romadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romadea)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/47 "2013-03-29T15:25:29Z")
I don’t think the police would respond to something like that where I live. I got a ticket for smoking pot while driving once; I would have had to pay $200 but I showed up to court to contest it and the judge was tired and wanted to go home early so he dismissed all the minor cases. I don’t do it anymore, anyway. I didn’t get pulled over for driving badly; my friend tossed a cigarette out her window and he wanted to give her a ticket for littering. I have a friend who does it really frequently. He’s very experienced at both driving and smoking pot, though. He’s a really good driver, never been in an accident, which of course doesn’t mean he never will or that he’s representative of all pot smoking drivers. On the other hand, I’ve been in a few accidents, all sober. I think ideally no one should be using their hands for anything other than driving while driving, but I can’t say I never mess with my phone or the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/48 "2013-03-29T15:41:51Z")
I wouldn’t call in someone smoking or drinking, it’s not my business. I know guys that have driven around with cans of beer for **years**. But the guys I’m thinking of are only casually drinking, they might drink one beer while driving, which is not enough to get anywhere near the legal limit. We can argue about whether that is right or wrong (it’s illegal in most states I believe for the driver, a few states allow passengers to drink alcohol) but I don’t think it’s particularly unsafe. But any driver I saw weaving around, clearly not in proper control of their vehicle, I’ll call in to the police. I have hands free dialing in any case so that part of it isn’t a concern, and I wouldn’t particularly care why they’re weaving around. Could be marijuana, could be alcohol, could be they took too many prescription drugs they were properly prescribed and didn’t intend any of this or whatever. But that’s a response to a safety concern. Seeing someone smoking or drinking a single beer isn’t an immediate safety concern without further signs of trouble and thus not something I’m worried about. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/49 "2013-03-29T16:09:26Z")
How do you know they weren’t smoking tobacco, cloves, or herbal shisha? We have hookah bars in my area that are quite popular, but you know they aren’t smoking anything illegal in them. [http://www.providencebyblos.com/](http://www.providencebyblos.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/50 "2013-03-29T17:01:00Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > He drives hours a day without a valid license?? Black or white, high or not, that just seems like a recipe for trouble. Unless I misread this. Nope, you read it correctly. Takes road trips and all. Yeah, it is a recipe for trouble but he’s been doing it forever and somehow it works out. Don’t ask me. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/51 "2013-03-29T17:02:08Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Maybe you should read the study. OK, I [googled it up](http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e536), as I couldn’t find a link in the article you originally posted. I’m not a statistician (and therefore had some trouble assessing what I was reading when they used statistical terms at times), but I don’t think I saw much discussion about the effects low-levels of pot use. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/52 "2013-03-29T17:15:13Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Nope, you read it correctly. Takes road trips and all. Yeah, it is a recipe for trouble but he’s been doing it forever and somehow it works out. Don’t ask me. Well it sounds like your boyfriend is an idiot. Driving without a license is a great way to get in all kinds of trouble and can lead to a lot of legal annoyances from just a routine traffic stop. Exactly what conclusions do you want us to draw from the fact he drives a nice car, always high while driving, and has no license? Best case scenario he’s someone who fucked up in the past and never did what was necessary to get his license renewed. Worst case scenario it almost sounds like you’re hinting that he’s a drug dealer. Either way it shows really poor judgment on your part to be involved with him and poor judgment on his to live the way you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/53 "2013-03-29T17:52:58Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Well it sounds like your boyfriend is an idiot. Driving without a license is a great way to get in all kinds of trouble and can lead to a lot of legal annoyances from just a routine traffic stop. > > Exactly what conclusions do you want us to draw from the fact he drives a nice car, always high while driving, and has no license? Best case scenario he’s someone who fucked up in the past and never did what was necessary to get his license renewed. Worst case scenario it almost sounds like you’re hinting that he’s a drug dealer. > > Either way it shows really poor judgment on your part to be involved with him and poor judgment on his to live the way you describe. No, he’s not a drug dealer. Why would pothead with nice car and no license=drug dealer? He got some minor ticket in Texas years and years ago and stupidly never settled it and in Texas that turns into a warrant after a certain amount of time and that’s keeping him from getting a license. I guess. That’s what he said anyway and he’s not one to downplay his sordid past (sometimes I wish he would just NOT tell me things). But yes, poor judgment all around. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/54 "2013-03-29T18:20:03Z")
I think smoking pot while driving is a bad idea and it isn’t something I’d personally do, nor would I drink a beer while driving (although I did a few times while under the influence of being young and stupid). But I wouldn’t think to call police on someone who did who was otherwise driving normally. Those of you who say you would need to unclench a little, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/55 "2013-03-29T18:20:16Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Would you have reported him if he’d been drinking beer? Talking on a cell phone where forbidden? > > I’ve no cite but anecdotal data that boozy drivers are much more dangerous than potty drivers. (Question: Is there a standard for comparing intoxication levels for these two very different intoxicants?) I have in my hand a study published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, called “Marijuana and Actual Driving Performance.” The report, exceeding 130 pages, has a great deal of technical data concerning levels of THC and the methodology of the study. > [@](#): > > Marijuana’s effects on driving performance were comparied to those of mahy other drugs. It was concluded that THC’s effects after doses up to 300 ug/kg never exceed alcohol’s at BACs of 0.08 g%; and, were in no way unusual compared to many medicinal drugs’. Yet THC’s effects differ qualitatively from many other drugs, especially alcohol. Evidence from the present and previous studies strongly suggest that alcohol encourages risky driving whereas THC encourages greater caution, at least in experiments. Another way THC seems to differ qualitatively from many other drugs is that the former’s users seem better able to compensate for its adverse effects while driving under the influence. Still one can easily image situations where the influence of marijuana smoking might have an exceedingly dangerous effect; i.el., emergency situations which put high demands on the driver’s information processing capacity, prolonged monotonous driving, and after THC has been taken with other drugs, especially alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/56 "2013-03-29T18:36:52Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I briefly thought about calling 311 and reporting him, That’s exactly what I would have done: call 311 and let them know that there’s a guy smoking pot. 311 would have come down hard and put on a great show, just like they always do. If there’s pot smokin’ goin’ on, 311 can and will provide the live music experience that is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/57 "2013-03-29T20:11:47Z")
Pointless, but related anecdote: I was driving home from Home Depot one fine sunny Saturday afternoon. I pulled up to a stoplight and glanced up in my rearview. I thought I recognized the passenger in the car behind me. Looked a lot like my neighbor, two houses down the street. Just as I was about to wave at him, I saw him put a bowl to his lips and take a hit. Note: He was _ **not** _ the driver. In fact, it was my neighbor, because he recognized my car and waved back. Sheepishly. Because I full on busted him. About an hour later, he knocked on my door, introduced himself and offered me a hit off the bowl. We’ve been friends ever since. So no. I did not call the cops. I doubt I would have if he was driving either. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/58 "2013-03-29T20:14:06Z")
Not unless he’s presenting a danger to others. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/59 "2013-03-30T08:53:43Z")
I would not report it, but I would take note of the descriptions of the car and its occupants, and the license plate, just in case there was an incident down the road. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214/60 "2013-03-30T22:52:57Z")
I would report it if I could, but I don’t know if much could be done about it. I’m not against pot, but I’m against driving while impaired by anything, be it alcohol, pot, cell phones, medication, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-someone-smoking-pot-while-driving-would-you-do-anything/654214.md?page=4)