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Skiing onGrassby Richard Lubin, D.C.“The SnowboardingChiropractor”Safety Committee Chair, FWSASkiing on grass. Am I referring to a newsummer sport? No, what I mean is people skiingwhile under the influence of marijuana.Does this present substantial risks? There isa shortage of research on this topic. The issueis conspicuous in its absence in this industry.So many participants and ski employees usecannabis regularly, that it is practically treatedwith a wink and a nod. I’m not suggestingthat intoxicated, aberrant, or poor behavior istolerated at ski resorts by their employees orpatrons. Marijuana use alone usually doesnot lead to boisterous ‘drunken’ type actions.California, the largest state by far, passedmedical marijuana laws in 1996 (Prop 215).The medical requirements are very lax. Thereare 17 states and the District of Columbiathat now have medical marijuana laws.Within the FWSA, that also includes Washington,Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. The illegalpurchase of the substance has been, andcontinues to be very popular and easy to obtain.In 2009, the Breckenridge, Colorado voterspassed a law allowing one ounce andparaphernalia by individuals over 21. BreckenridgeSki Resort (Vail Resorts) did not havethis same policy. Smoking weed among localsis so commonplace that it is implied. Mediaportrayal commonly shows skiers and snowboardersgetting high. The word Gondola hasbeen replaced by some with “Gangola”.Snowboarders are often characterized assmokers. The first time snowboarding was allowedat the Olympics, an incident occurred.Canadian snowboarder, Ross Rebagliati, wongold in men’s giant slalom at the 1998 Gamesin Nagano, Japan. He tested positive for marijuana,was stripped of his medal, and then, itwas given back. Since the inception of snowboarding,the “half pipe” has a double meaning.The widespread assertion that moresnowboarders smoke marijuana than skiersmay be true. The population of snowboarders,on average, is younger than the skiingpopulation. The younger population, skiers orboarders, are more likely to be users andchronic daily users, at that. In general, higherusage among the younger adult participantsin both of these sports is prevalent.Many states have legalized the use of medical marijuana. Thus, it has becomean ever increasing sight on the slopes. Few studies have been conducted on thesafety factors of smoking it while participating in snowsports, however, thegeneral opinion is that using cannabis increases the risk of injury. If not inplace already, ski resort policies will be reviewed to deal with this increasingtrend. photo by Richard LubinSO, IS IT DANGEROUS?Maybe! Among the scant safety dataavailable was an abstract published in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine in 2009 basedon a study of trauma centers in Bern, Switzerland.Their findings investigated a number ofsafety issues. It was their opinion that manyfactors including cannabis use increases therisk of injury.A consideration in studying cannabis isthat there is a great degree of diversity in howit affects people. Generalizations as to its consequencesare more varied compared to otherdrugs. When people enjoy cannabis, they maynote the euphoric effects, or they may becomeparanoid and dislike the whole experience. Itaffects many parts of the brain including thehippocampus, which is important for shortterm memory and attentiveness. This distractibilitymay be an important safety risk.We do know that anything that affects yourattention and is a safety issue, just like textingand driving, is dangerous. It has also beenshown in some individuals, to affect reactiontime, coordination, and increase risk seekingbehavior. The heart rate may also increasedramatically. Those with cardiac issues needbe aware, notably since skiing takes place inrarefied air, already a risk factor.CONCLUSIONPeople will continue to use cannabis,since it has become easier to obtain, and thereare more powerful strains available. Amongthe population of skiers and snowboardersthere’s a substantial, but unknown, percentagethat use cannabis.Many of the locals in ski towns are particularlyavid users. They may be using on avery regular basis meaning daily or even multipletimes daily. This population may be leastaffected because of their proficiency level andfamiliarity with the intoxicating effects (habituation).At a high skill level with regularcannabis use, the risk may be no more thanwalking and chewing gum.Individuals at the lower skill levels likebeginners and intermediates, may be at thehighest risk. The occasional smoker may beoverwhelmed by the powerful effects. Commonplaceski skills may suddenly be a challengeand present peril.I am not making a judgment on whetheradults should or should not use cannabis. Myassessment is that it adds risk and requires extensiveinvestigation. Ignoring this topic is neglectful.An increasing populous will continueto smoke grass, will participate in snowsports,and this may lead to more injuries. If you doengage in this behavior, be especially vigilantand attentive. Each individual creates theirown risk management. Remember, safety isthinking first! ▲▲Far West Skier’s Guide 2O12 - 2O13 57