# Smoke dope, get a free car! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275 "2003-10-24T07:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/1 "2003-10-24T07:01:05Z")
I’m sitting in my chair minding my own business and watching some bad television when I notice something. I’m trying to concentrate on “Highlander” (the series, not the movie. I know, it’s not nearly as good as the movie, but sometimes Duncan wears jeans…) and they keep putting all these commercials in the way, and I’m kind of paying attention to those too. What I learned from the commercials is that Amaretto is consumed by very hot people who use it for foreplay, that vodka is also extremely cool, that if you want to live the good life you should drink some kind of beer, and that if you ever smoke marijuana you will automatically be involved in an automotive fatality. You might be the guy who was driving stoned when his little brother was killed, or the guy goofing on the drive thru when he ran over the little girl on the bike, or the crash test dummy who did some bad things to an automobile because he was toking, but if you smoke weed you WILL drive and someone will die. Leaving aside the question of how the same network can show an anti marijuana ad directly before an ad for hard liquor without noticing the irony, it leaves me wondering if the legalization advocates have finally won. Is that, finally, all that the prohibitionists have left as an argument? Are they left with the idea that driving stoned is bad? I agree, it is, but if that’s your best argument, the one that you are spending all that money to bring to the viewing public, then you might want to try to avoid getting yourself sandwiched between spots which highlight just how amazingly neat and sexy booze is. The breweries and distilleries tend to underplay the whole crashing automobiles thing, and they have access to better advertising agencies. ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/2 "2003-10-24T07:14:11Z")
Yeah, the new anti-pot commercials are quite spectacularly stupid. But I still look back with a mixture of fondness and disgust on the old classics. You remember the one, where the camera perspective is from a surgical table, looking up at a surgeon toking on a joint, and he’s giggling and saying stupid stuff, and the voice over says, “Still say pot is harmless?” Sure, pot should be illegal because otherwise the guy who is supposed to perform your heart transplant might be stoned. Of course, it would be perfectly okay if he was plastered on vodka… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/3 "2003-10-24T07:16:17Z")
You discovered this whilst watching _High_lander. Groovy. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/4 "2003-10-24T10:47:58Z")
Where’s the free car? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/5 "2003-10-24T10:51:39Z")
Faster! … _Faster!_ … _ **FASTER!!!** _ [sub]my favorite scene from Reefer Madness[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/6 "2003-10-24T10:59:03Z")
Pot smokers get free cars??? Dammit, no one tells me anything… Does it work like Marlboro miles? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/7 "2003-10-24T16:28:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. B \* > \*\*You discovered this whilst watching _High_lander. > > Groovy. \*\* UC Santa Cruz is located on High Street. The street signs don’t last long. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/8 "2003-10-24T16:49:21Z")
I love the new drug commercials, especially the one with the dude sitting in the basement, smoking weed and watching cartoons. Oh no! I’m going to sit around and watch cartoons…wait, that sounds like a benefit. ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/9 "2003-10-24T16:50:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > **Leaving aside the question of how the same network can show an anti marijuana ad directly before an ad for hard liquor without noticing the irony, it leaves me wondering if the legalization advocates have finally won.** I can’t tell from your profile, but this part of your post tells me you must live outside the US, since ads for hard liquor are not shown on US tv. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/10 "2003-10-24T16:56:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Troy McClure SF \* > > UC Santa Cruz is located on High Street. And all the clocks are stopped at 4:20. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/11 "2003-10-24T16:58:26Z")
They aren’t, bayonet? I see ads on TV for Captain Morgan Rum and I just saw one for some brand of vodka that escapes me at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/12 "2003-10-24T16:58:47Z")
Hard liquor ads are indeed shown on U.S. T.V. The liquor companies lifted their self imposed TV ads ban awhile back. I see them all the time now. ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/13 "2003-10-24T18:07:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chandeleur \* > \*\*Hard liquor ads are indeed shown on U.S. T.V. The liquor companies lifted their self imposed TV ads ban awhile back. I see them all the time now. \*\* Upon further review turns out you’re right. For some reason these commercials don’t seem to make it to my tv, probably because my tv happens to be in Jacksonville, Florida. They banned all sales and rental of porn here, so I am not surprised hard liquor ads are not shown. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/14 "2003-10-24T18:10:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > **Are they left with the idea that driving stoned is bad? I agree, it is** Want to know what the really funny thing is? It’s _not_ bad! See [here](http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1775.html) (cites for all of those studies are on the bottom of the page.): > [@](#): > > A 1983 study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) used stoned drivers on simulators, and concluded that the only statistically significant effect associated with marijuana use was slower driving. > > 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.” This study was buried for six years and not released until 1998. > > Another NHTSA study performed in 1993 dosed Dutch drivers with THC and tested them on real Dutch roads. It concluded that “THC’s adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small.” > > 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. > > A University of Toronto study released in March 1999 found that moderate pot users typically refrained from passing cars and drove at a more consistent speed than non-users. > > An important consideration when considering the effects of cannabis and driving is whether the smoker is an experienced user. Novice tokers typically experience more difficulty driving than regular users. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Troy McClure SF \* > **UC Santa Cruz is located on High Street.** My hometown had both a High Street and a Stoner Drive. The latter was hard to find because the street signs never stayed up very long. High Street had a few go missing, as well. I knew a guy that took one of those. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/15 "2003-10-24T18:11:37Z")
Bans have been lifted. Hell, just last night I watched a Baileys Irish Cream ad that had a guy trying to figure out just which beautiful woman kissed him when the lights went out…or maybe it was that guy over there who’s ALSO drinking Bailey’s!!!:eek: ALCOHOL WILL ALSO MAKE YOU QUESTION YOUR SEXUALITY OR SOMEONE ELSE’S!!! Much more entertaining than the old Harvey’s Bristol Creme ads… ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/16 "2003-10-24T18:22:10Z")
They show amaretto ads? Like the stuff old Italian ladies drink by the thimbleful before they go to sleep? And they try to portray it as cool and sexy? Strange. I gotta watch me teevee. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/17 "2003-10-24T18:32:34Z")
**neutron** , I’m all for decriminalization, but I’m quite certain that smoking marijuana impairs your driving abilities. Maybe not as significantly as alcohol, but way beyond what’s acceptable. There was a time when I believed it probably just made you more cautious, but that belief vapourized pretty quickly after I was in a minor accident of such monumental stupidity that I quite frankly can not imagine it having happened if the driver had not been high. Four people in the car driving through a residential are, trying to remember the name of a minor character actor. The driver had it “on the tip of his tongue,” and _closed his eyes in concentration_. The car ahead of us obeyed a stop-sign, and by the time the rest of us realized what was about to happen and shouted, it was too late to avoid hitting her. It was just a bump, with no harm to person or property, but when attention drifts that far from road in front of you, it’s usually going to be worse. I’ve also had plenty of opportunity to observe significant performance reductions while play simulator-style video games while under the influence of cannabis. No _way_ would I attempt to drive a vehicle in real space and time. Unforgivably irresponsible behavior. ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/18 "2003-10-24T18:36:43Z")
The hipocracy of the anti-pot ads has always made me laugh as well. My favorite is the one where the two teenagers are in their dad’s office and they are stoned and they find a gun and they imply that one of teens accidently gets shot. As Jon Stewart said, “Isn’t that more of an arguement for gun control?” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/19 "2003-10-24T18:36:56Z")
Just pretend I proofread that, okay? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275/20 "2003-10-24T18:53:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > > Just pretend I proofread that, okay? Considering the subject, I just reckoned you were _small_ when you typed it. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoke-dope-get-a-free-car/209275.md?page=2)