Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jan 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Georgia Stevens
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n023/a03.html

IMPAIRMENT IS THE POINT

THIS LETTER is in response to Patricia Monaghan's letter about 
medical marijuana and driving, published Jan. 12.

Monaghan is missing the point about Rep. Bill Rehm's bill seeking 
penalties for drugged driving equal to those for drunken driving.

The point is impairment. We need impaired drivers off the road, 
whether they are impaired by alcohol, marijuana or any other substance.

There's no argument about this: There are more alcohol-impaired 
drivers than cannabinoid-impaired drivers. To start with, Americans 
consume more alcohol.

I've consulted with Rehm. He has read the research.

A study by scientists from Harvard and Northwestern University (in 
the Journal of Neuroscience, April 2014) showed abnormalities in the 
nucleus accumbens and the amygdala - key regions for emotion and 
motivation, and associated with addiction - in the brains of even 
casual marijuana users. A longitudinal study published in Proceedings 
of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012, by Dr. Madeline Meier of 
Duke University, and colleagues showed strong evidence that teen use 
of cannabis could cause a drop in IQ.

Scary, but not obviating the case for medical marijuana.

New Mexicans cared enough to legalize medical marijuana and we count 
on patients to use it responsibly. Rehm's bill isn't about medical 
marijuana unless patients are driving while impaired.

Rehm wants consistency in penalties for the sake of public safety. I 
hope that lawmakers will review his bill carefully and vote accordingly.

GEORGIA STEVENS Smarter New Mexico
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom