Citation

Kurzthaler I, Hummer M, Miller C, Sperner-Unterweger B, Günther V, Wechdorn H, Battista HJ, Fleischhacker WW. J. Clin. Psychiatry 1999; 60(6): 395-399.

Affiliation

Department of Biological Psychiatry, Innsbruck University Clinics, Austria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Physicians Postgraduate Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10401919

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neither experimental nor epidemiologic approaches have so far given definitive answers to the question of the potential effect of cannabis on driving ability. METHOD: To shed more light on this topic, we conducted a placebo-controlled double-blind study including 60 healthy volunteers (a negative urine drug screening test was prerequisite). On the first day, baseline data were obtained from a physical examination and a psychological test battery for the investigation of visual and verbal memory as well as cognitive perceptual performance. On the second day, subjects received a regular cigarette or one containing 290 microg/kg body weight of tetrahydrocannabinol. Physical and psychological assessments were performed immediately (15 minutes) after subjects smoked their cigarettes. Twenty-four hours later, physical and psychological examinations were repeated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that perceptual motor speed and accuracy, 2 very important parameters of driving ability, seem to be impaired immediately after cannabis consumption.

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving

Language: en