Autoblog

This is what driving totally stoned on marijuana looks like

Zach Bowman — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Videos

With multiple states legalizing marijuana, government agencies are scrambling to research the effect of the drug on drivers. CNN recently took a look at operating a motor vehicle under the influence of pot by subjecting three users in Washington state to a little driving test with the help of a local sheriff's department. The results are a little surprising, with even casual smokers able to safely operate a car with up to five times the state's new legal limit in their blood stream. At worst, the smokers were actually more cautious on the course than they were before partaking.

Once the levels increased, however, the story changed dramatically, with two participants showing obvious signs of impairment. Heavy user Addy, meanwhile, continued to perform admirably up until the very last stage of the study. You can check out the full video below for yourself, and remember to keep it off the road, kids.

Continue reading This is what driving totally stoned on marijuana looks like

This is what driving totally stoned on marijuana looks like originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Participant claims Fox News Denver rigged marijuana driving test results

George Kennedy — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, TV/Movies

In May of this year, KDVR, Fox News 31 of Denver, Colorado aired a segment in which it tested the effects of marijuana on drivers. At the time of the story, Colorado lawmakers narrowly voted down a law that would have made it illegal to drive with more than five nanograms per milliliter of the drug in your system. So, to determine the effects of driving under the influence of marijuana, the local Fox affiliate gathered up several volunteers, with ages ranging from early-20's to mid-60's, and asked them to hop into a driving simulator after smoking pot. Once participant was not convinced of the news station's objectivity.

Max Montrose was one of the younger volunteers, and he was skeptical about the study, so he brought a hidden camera with him. Following the experiment, he posted a video to YouTube last week, cutting in clips of the new story with his own footage of the test. In one hidden camera clip, Montrose gets a camera operator to admit that the test isn't really that applicable, as well as other volunteers pointing out that the simulator was designed for the CDL test, designed for large semi trucks. He also contends that another vehicle in the simulator acted erratically and crashed into him in the course of his test.

The whole video seemed very damning on its surface, but KDVR has shot back, providing context to many of the issues raised by Montrose. The station explains that the test was conducted by a third party, and though the test was in a CDL facility, the simulator was set for a four-door SUV, a vehicle that would have been familiar for many drivers. Furthermore, the station interviewed a phlebotomist, who stated that effects are different from person to person, and several volunteers passed the test even though under the influence.

The KDVR response basically states that Montrose may have had biased motives from the start of the study, which is a claim that Montrose makes of the privately owned Fox affiliate. The original news report is not very damning for marijuana users, meanwhile Montrose even admits that he "would never advocate in a million years anyone to drive intoxicated on anything for any reason." So, no real conclusions are drawn in the matter, but just like the phlebotomist said of marijuana, this news story apparently affects each individual differently. See the now-viral video for yourself by scrolling below, and draw your own conclusions.

Continue reading Participant claims Fox News Denver rigged marijuana driving test results

Participant claims Fox News Denver rigged marijuana driving test results originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thieves stealing Porsche headlamps for marijuana grow lights

George Kennedy — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Porsche

Well this is something you don't see every day. Thieves in Amsterdam have been preying upon unsuspecting Porsche models recently. That may not be unusual in and of itself, but the burglars are not attempting to make off with the entire car. Rather, they are stealing only the HID headlights. But what's most interesting is the purpose behind snatching just the headlamp assemblies.

It is believed that the headlights make for ideal lighting solutions when growing marijuana indoors. The high-intensity discharge bulbs give off more heat and require much less power than standard grow lamps, yet, critically, they offer the right quality of light and heat. According to De Telegraaf, as many as 20 Porsches fell victim to this trend, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. The cost of a typical HID assembly for hydroponics can run from $100 to $500, and up.

This is apparently the latest hot-button item to be stolen from luxury cars, following navigation systems and airbags. Scroll down to check out the video of a thief making short work of Panamera peepers.

Continue reading Thieves stealing Porsche headlamps for marijuana grow lights

Thieves stealing Porsche headlamps for marijuana grow lights originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smoking pot nearly doubles risk of serious crash

Zach Bowman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Canada

Canadian researchers have discovered smoking marijuana three hours before driving can more than double a driver's chance of being involved in a serious crash. The study examined data collected from 49,111 victims who had been seriously injured or died in an accident. Researchers specifically looked at cases where tetrahydrocannabionol, the active compound in marijuana, was found in the victims' blood stream but where other drugs and alcohol were absent. The study also evaluated instances where the driver admitted to smoking within three hours of the crash. The findings demonstrate that, while those who drive under the influence of alcohol are still more likely to be involved in a collision than their pot-smoking counterparts, marijuana significantly impairs an individual's ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Shocking.

The study did not note precise levels of THC present in each instance, though as CBC News reports, other research has proven a positive link between the higher crash likelihood and elevated THC levels.

Law enforcement agencies are currently struggling to effectively test for THC impairment during roadside stops. Unlike blood-alcohol levels, which can be easily tested for using a breath test, THC is harder to detect. As a result, most agencies have adopted a zero-tolerance policy.

Smoking pot nearly doubles risk of serious crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Chrysler factory workers caught enjoying "the plant" at Jefferson North

Noah Joseph — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

What is it about working at the Chrysler Jefferson North facility (pictured above) that drives employees to get high? Controversy has bubbled up again in the form of a new report of auto workers at the factory smoking pot during their lunch break.

The last report came in September 2010 when a local Fox News affiliate caught video footage of a group of off-duty Chrysler employees apparently downing a few beers and smoking a joint or two in the company parking lot. This time, Chrysler reportedly busted another three workers - who were evidently not deterred by (or fully cognizant of) the publicity surrounding the previous incident - for partaking in the controlled substance during their downtime.

The automaker reportedly tipped off ~~the man~~ local police to the act on January 24, leading to the workers' arrests. Formal charges have reportedly not yet been filed, however. Two possible outcomes as a result of the arrests? 1. Workers actually wait until they're home to light up next time. 2. Afternoon vending machine revenue at Jefferson North plummets.

[Source: The Detroit News]

More Chrysler factory workers caught enjoying "the plant" at Jefferson North originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going to Pot: Motive to unveil cannabis-composite Kestrel [w/video]

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos

Motive Industries talks about its cannabis-bodied car - Click above to watch a video after the jump

Motive Industries has announced that they will unveil Canada's first bio-composite bodied electric car this September at the EV 2010 VÉ Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver. Dubbed the Kestrel, the four-passenger compact forgoes some of the traditional fibers used in composites for a renewable green car (*ahem*) technology - hemp.

The bio material is derived from hemp mats produced by Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) who gets their stash from Vegreville, Alberta (industrial hemp, i.e., Cannabis sativa L, is legally grown in Canada under license from Health Canada and must contain less than 0.3 per cent THC). As well as having the impact resistance of fiberglass composites, the hemp version has the added bonuses of being lighter and cheaper - two important qualities for battery-powered vehicles.

Engineered for a program called Project Eve that aims to aid Canadian firms produce electric vehicles and components, the Darren McKeage-designed cannabis car will undergo prototyping and testing later this month. Hit the jump for Calgary News broadcast discussing the new composite, including footage with company president Nathan Armstrong.

[Sources: Motive Industries, Calgary News]

Continue reading Going to Pot: Motive to unveil cannabis-composite Kestrel [w/video]

Going to Pot: Motive to unveil cannabis-composite Kestrel [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taking a ride on the medical Canni-Bus

Chris Shunk — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:11:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Picture it: you're a police officer on traffic patrol in an urban setting. Your patrol car is cleverly hidden within a dimly-lit side street, and you're holding your radar gun to gauge the speed of passers-by. Then you see a white GMC Express commercial van driving in the left-hand lane. The vehicle isn't speeding. Quite the opposite, the white van is going 10 mph under the speed limit. The driver of the white van appears to be pre-occupied with large quantities of fast food. Then you see it, a billboard-sized "Legalize Medical Marijuana" sign adorns the sides of the vehicle. You flip the lights pull the guy over.

That's the danger for a guy named Noel every time he gets in his van. Noel's transportation is a mobile billboard for the legalization of medical Marijuana. Noel began his quest to have medical marijuana legalized after he was in a motorcycle accident that put him in a wheel chair. Noel was fed-up with the long line of expensive and potentially harmful medications that were used to ease his pain when, he felt good ole Marijuana would work even better.

Besides driving the "world famous" marijuana van, Noel also has a website, cleverly titled grassynoel.org, dedicated to marijuana awareness. The site has many different uses for the "weed" plant, including using the stalk to produce diesel fuel at a reported $.40 per gallon. Our compadre's over at Autoblog Green would be interested in checking out that little factoid since they are already studying the idea of "Hemp as fuel."

We don't have a stance on the "legalize medical Marijuana" debate, but we're pretty sure we'd be okay with $.40 per gallon weed-diesel, as long as it doesn't make the engine lazy or give it the munchies.

[Source: Madwhips.com]

Taking a ride on the medical Canni-Bus originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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