# Naw, Al Gore's son would never do anything like that... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 21, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288 "2003-12-21T07:15:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/61 "2003-12-21T20:47:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Venoma \* > \*\*I can drive quite well after having -one- drink, but apparantly, even incidental marijuana smoke affects me adversely. Of course, YMMV, literally. \*\* Let me guess, you don’t smoke pot very often? Inexperienced smokers and inexperienced drivers definitely should not be driving while high. For people who are experienced at both, being high is a distraction of about the same magnitude as listening to the radio or drinking a soda. I know someone who made a living for 5 years by driving stoned every day, and I’d rather be in the car with him than with, say, anyone over 65. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/62 "2003-12-21T22:22:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Inexperienced smokers and inexperienced drivers definitely should not be driving while high. For people who are experienced at both, being high is a distraction of about the same magnitude as listening to the radio or drinking a soda. YMMV, but the effects of pot on me got _more_ pronounced over the period that I smoked. First few times, if I’d been a driver (I wasn’t), I probably could’ve driven safely afterwards. The last few times, I wouldn’t have trusted me with a can-opener. I note that the DOT study cited by **CarnalK** tested something relatively simple - they had the subjects follow a lead car, and measured following distance and lateral motion. No decisions required. And that’s exactly what would worry me; in my latter days of smoking pot, I would lose track of the beginning of a sentence I was saying, before I got to the end. (Which was why I quit.) I could probably have followed that lead car OK, but I sure wouldn’t have wanted to drive in a real traffic situation, involving adapting to changing circumstances, with that little continuity of thought. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/63 "2003-12-21T22:26:26Z")
What’s funny is that the alleged determining factor here is “experienced pot smokers”. Yeah, that’s just great, let people who are already intoxicated make the decision whether they’re experienced enough or not. “Hey, man, I do this all the time”. Gee, I never heard that before. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/64 "2003-12-21T22:28:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Check it out, dipshit. > [Recent research into impairment and traffic accident reports from several countries shows that marijuana taken alone in moderate amounts does not significantly increase a driver’s risk of causing an accident – unlike alcohol](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/03/990325110700.htm) > Driving while stoned is perfectly safe. I’ve done it a million times and never had an accident. \*\* Read your own cite, you dumb cunt. > [@](#): > > While smoking marijuana does impair driving ability, it does not share alcohol’s effect on judgment. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/65 "2003-12-21T22:44:14Z")
Wow, you two! You sure know how to harsh a buzz. Calm down. Here, have a cookie. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/66 "2003-12-21T22:53:59Z")
Mmmmm… **'luci’s** cookies. Hmmmm…that doesn’t sound right. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/67 "2003-12-21T22:55:04Z")
So this beatnik is in his pad, see, about to smoke some “reefer” when he looks out his window and sees The Man coming to roust him. So he quickly stuffs the “mary jane” into the cuckoo clock just before the bust down his door. Well, they look and look, and don’t find anything, and are just about to leave when its ten o’clock, and the little bird comes out and says: “Hey, baby! Any of you cats care what time it is?” ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/68 "2003-12-21T23:34:23Z")
Careful! Careful! You’ll don’t want to start the dreaded “joke thread in the Pit.” ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/69 "2003-12-21T23:51:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*What’s funny is that the alleged determining factor here is “experienced pot smokers”. Yeah, that’s just great, let people who are already intoxicated make the decision whether they’re experienced enough or not. > > “Hey, man, I do this all the time”. Gee, I never heard that before.\*\* Yeah, except the pot smokers have **CITES** to back them up, genius. And these aren’t just controlled studies. See [here](http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1775.html) (all cites are on the bottom of the page) : > [@](#): > > A comprehensive 1992 study by the NHTSA found that marijuana is rarely involved in driving accidents, except when combined with alcohol. It concluded that “the THC-only drivers had an [accident] responsibility rate below that of the drug free drivers. While the difference was not statistically significant, there was no indication that cannabis by itself was a cause of fatal crashes.” Similar results can be found in Australia: > [@](#): > > A massive 1998 study by the University of Adelaide and Transport South Australia analyzed blood samples from 2,500 accidents, and found that drivers with cannabis in their system were actually slightly less likely to cause accidents than those without. Those are hard numbers. They don’t lie. There’s no “well maybe the test subjects were all just good stoned drivers or had lousy pot” you can say to explain that one away. To those who think that pot is a danger on the roads, please explain those numbers to me. I also asked for an explanation in the last thread in this subject, but, unsurprisingly, nobody came forward with one. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Neurotik_ Read your own cite, you dumb cunt. [/quote] Well, I’m not **Dio** , but If I was, I’d ask _you_ to read the fucking cite! > [@](#): > > Drivers on marijuana remain aware of their impairment, prompting them to slow down and drive more cautiously to compensate, she says. > \ > Their behaviour is more appropriate to their impairment, whereas subjects who received alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner." In other words, marijuana does slightly impair driving ability, but, at the same time, the pot smoker’s high level of compensation for those effects negates (or more than negates, based on the accident reports) the impairment. Understand now? WRT to the political aspects of this thread, I’m not too big on blaming someone for his kid’s pot use (Democrat or Republican), but I will note that at least Gore was _honest_ about his own marijuana use in college. GWB dodged and weaseled out of every drug-related question thrown at him. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/70 "2003-12-22T00:13:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > **Well, I’m not Dio, but If I was, I’d ask _you_ to read the fucking cite!** Obviously, I did. Otherwise I wouldn’t have found the relevent quote. > [@](#): > > **In other words, marijuana does slightly impair driving ability, but, at the same time, the pot smoker’s high level of compensation for those effects negates (or more than negates, based on the accident reports) the impairment. Understand now?** Listen, asshole. Does or does not marijuana impair your driving ability? Yes or no? The cite says yes. In fact, every study I’ve ever seen says yes. Now, you may be aware of this impairment while being high, which means you’ll be extra careful on the road - but you’re still impaired and if you do need to react, you’re not going to react as swiftly as you might need to. Driving while high is not a good idea. Although, I’d rather the person be high and extra careful then one of those dipshits that swerves in and out of traffic going 15 mph faster than everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/71 "2003-12-22T00:23:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*Obviously, I did. Otherwise I wouldn’t have found the relevent quote. > > Listen, asshole. Does or does not marijuana impair your driving ability? Yes or no? > > The cite says yes.\*\* The cite says yes, but **qualifies that answer**. Fucking learn to understand what you read. Compensation negates impairment and the accident studies prove it. I’m waiting with baited breath for someone to address those numbers, but, like I said, it didn’t happen last time and likely won’t happen this time. > [@](#): > > which means you’ll be extra careful on the road - but you’re still impaired and if you do need to react, you’re not going to react as swiftly as you might need to. In controlled studies, I suppose. But can those studies be extrapolated to real life? The accident studies suggest that the answer to that one is a solid “no.” What I’d like to see is a study comparing illegally stoned drivers to legally sleepy drivers. That would be interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/72 "2003-12-22T00:47:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > **The cite says yes, but qualifies that answer. Fucking learn to understand what you read. Compensation negates impairment and the accident studies prove it. I’m waiting with baited breath for someone to address those numbers, but, like I said, it didn’t happen last time and likely won’t happen this time.** I fucking understand what I read. The fact remains that you are impaired. Now, you may be extra-special careful while driving with your impairment and end up being safer, but it’s not some magical property of pot that automatically makes you a safer driver. And it’s a tendency, as well. It’s not a universal trait of marijuana users that they all share. I’d also imagine that someone who has had several drinks and is aware of their impairment will also be extra cautious on the road. In fact, that has been the case with one or two people I know who have done just that. As for the numbers, what’s there to address? There’s no doubt in my mind that people who are aware they are under the influence and take special precautions to address that are safer drivers than a sober person making a call and putting on their lipstick and not paying attention to the road. That said, if you have knowingly taken a substance that will impair your ability to drive, you should stay off the road. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/73 "2003-12-22T00:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*Besides the fact that it’s illegal, he shouldn’t have been driving while high, on a substance that American society has deemed improper to use for recreational purposes. > > And I’m interested in knowing why you wouldn’t advise your kids to look to Bush or Gore as role models. I mean, are you talking drug wise? I’m assuming so since this thread deals with drug and alcohol use. \*\* 1. I asked about smoking pot, not driving while high. My feelings about that are the same as my feelings about alcohol. 2. The thread has drifted significantly since I made my first post, but at the time it was still about hypocrisy, not drug or alcohol use, and it is by reason of their hypocrisy that I would not advise my children to emulate either W. Bush or Gore. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/74 "2003-12-22T01:05:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > **And it’s a tendency, as well. It’s not a universal trait of marijuana users that they all share.** No, but you’ll find that the people who drive poorly on marijuana (read: inexperienced or occasional smokers) don’t _want_ to drive. I really wish I could say the same for alcohol. > [@](#): > > As for the numbers, what’s there to address? There’s no doubt in my mind that people who are aware they are under the influence and take special precautions to address that are safer drivers than a sober person making a call and putting on their lipstick and not paying attention to the road. Then shouldn’t we criminalize putting on lipstick while driving, eating while driving, drinking a soda, changing the radio station, changing CDs, having a conversation, smoking a cigarette, being sleepy, or any one of the hundreds of other bad things that sober drivers do? If not, why should stoned drivers be labeled DUI and dealt harsh penalties, while drivers who were distracted (to a slightly greater degree, even) for other reasons get charged with a lesser offensive, such as careless driving? ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/75 "2003-12-22T01:11:22Z")
I might add that the stoned drives could have also been distracted by the very same things that distracted the sober accident-causers, meaning that marijuana may not have even been a factor at all in those accidents. Also bear in mind that THC testing isn’t the exact science that BAC testing is. It’s impossible to narrow down the exact time the driver smoked. It’s very likely that a significant portion of the accident causers who tested positive for THC weren’t even stoned when they caused the accidents. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/76 "2003-12-22T01:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Listen, asshole. Does or does not marijuana impair your driving ability? Yes or no? The answer is NO, you stupid, worthless fuck. Learn how to fucking read. Marijuana DOES NOT cause car accidents. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/77 "2003-12-22T02:03:13Z")
I’d just like to add that Al Gore’s son is to be _commended_ for being cool enough to smke a little grass. To quote Dennis Miller, don’t you remember the fuckheads who wouldn’t touch the pot? Al Gore is also to be commended for raising a cool son instead of a repressed little nazi. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/78 "2003-12-22T02:41:28Z")
Is Al Gore’s son to be commended for his DUI as well? Or maybe his 40+ MPH violation of the speed limit? I’m glad you can justify assholish behavior, **Dio**. Although I must say that it takes ignoring other significant facts to do it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/79 "2003-12-22T03:21:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > > > [@](#): > > > > Listen, asshole. Does or does not marijuana impair your driving ability? Yes or no? > > The answer is NO, you stupid, worthless fuck. Learn how to fucking read. Marijuana DOES NOT cause car accidents. As previously mentioned, Dio, the cite says _yes_, even though it qualifies that answer. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288/80 "2003-12-22T05:29:01Z")
Oh, and one other thing, **Dio**. If you think doing drugs is cool, then you must think that Noelle Bush is the coolest person on Earth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naw-al-gores-son-would-never-do-anything-like-that/220288.md?page=5)