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Americans Believe Stoned is better Than Sloshed When it Comes to Driving


marijuana

SEATTLE--June 3, 2014: According to the Google Survey we conducted during the month of April 2014 – Despite the slow pace of legalizing marijuana in the United States, Americans believe it's worse to drive after drinking than after smoking marijuana.

Querying 1000 Internet users nationwide, a little over 84 percent of those polled answered "yes" to the question "Which is worse, driving after drinking or driving after smoking marijuana."

According to Lock, an international trainer in human performance and learning, "What's interesting about these findings is that despite the public's wide acceptance of drinking alcohol, especially wine and beer, there's a conflict in attitude about how it impacts behavior. While there's little stigma towards drinking in public versus smoking marijuana in public, there's a very different opinion about driving when it comes to alcohol versus marijuana."

Nearly twice as many respondents over the age of 65 felt marijuana was worse than respondents in the 18-24 age range. Lock adds, "These findings are interesting in that states with younger populations might be more accepting towards legalizing marijuana whereas states with older populations may have a challenge."

When it comes to income, 100 percent of people who make over $100K believe that driving after drinking is worse. Lock added, "In my world this is interesting because wine enthusiasts tend to be in the upper income bracket, attending wine events and wine vacation tours."

Another interesting finding as it relates to income is that Americans that make less the $25K also said it was worse to drive after drinking. Lock said, "We can only speculate at this point, but it's possible that lower income Americans realize the extreme costs that can occur in their lives when caught drinking while driving."

While Americans in suburban areas were similar in believing that driving after drinking was worse than driving after smoking marijuana, suburbanites chose drinking slightly over 79 percent as opposed to the study average of slightly over 84 percent. Lock suggests that these results need further clarification, but may be the result of concerns about social stigma related to marijuana use as compared to more socially acceptable alcohol consumption.

As the president of winecraftsman.com, Lock focuses on working with winemakers. The reason for this survey Lock states, is that everybody, whether they make their own wine or not, can identify with the issue and the ongoing debate of the impact of alcohol versus marijuana use.

What would be interesting, Lock continues, is to find out how Americans feel about growing their own marijuana versus making wine at home. In some circles, it raises your status to be known as a winemaker, whereas growing marijuana can have a different impact on friends and associates.

A summary of the survey results, complete with charts, high resolution graphics, can be found by visiting Winecraftsman Press.