Legalization of Marijuana Linked to Increased Traffic Crashes, Fatalities
Jul 19, 2022
Marijuana legalization linked to traffic crashes, fatalities
Marijuana legalization linked to traffic crashes, fatalities
States that legalized recreational marijuana saw a subsequent increase in traffic crashes and fatalities, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
"The legalization of marijuana doesn't come without cost," says lead researcher Charles M. Farmer, Ph.D., of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Ruckersville, Va.
Farmer and colleagues' analysis of five states that allow the recreational use of marijuana revealed a 5.8% increase in the rate of traffic crash injuries and a 4.1% increase in fatal crash rates after legalization and the onset of retail sales. The researchers found no increase in a comparison group of states that did not legalize the drug.
Overall, the initial jump in the injury rate occurred after legalization but before retail sales began. Traffic crash injuries rose 6.5% after legalization but decreased slightly (-0.7%) after retail sales commenced. However, fatal crashes increased both after legalization (+2.3%) and after retail sales were authorized (+1.8%).
"Legalization removes the stigma of marijuana use, while the onset of retail sales merely increases access," says Farmer. "But access to marijuana isn't difficult, even in places without retail sales. Users who previously avoided driving high may feel that it's okay after legalization."
The sharper relationship between marijuana legalization and crash injuries, rather than fatalities, may be due to how some drivers compensate when impaired by marijuana. Often, these drivers slow down and maintain larger distances between themselves and others. Impaired but at lower speeds, such drivers may not be able to avoid a crash, but the crashes that occur may be less likely to be deadly.
Earlier studies involving driving simulators have shown marijuana use to affect reaction time, road tracking and attention. However, Farmer notes that the current study is correlational, and increased marijuana use itself is likely not the sole cause of the increases.
"Studies looking for a direct causal link between marijuana use and crash risk have been inconclusive," he says. "Unlike alcohol, there is no good objective measure of just how impaired a marijuana user has become. Until we can accurately measure marijuana impairment, we won't be able to link it to crash risk."
The investigators collected data on traffic crashes and volume for 2009-2019 from 11 states and the Federal Highway Administration. Five states (Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada) had legalized recreational marijuana. A comparison group of six states (Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) did not.
Farmer points out that states considering legalization should consider a few steps to help forestall a potential increase in crashes. "First, convince everyone that driving under the influence of marijuana is not okay," he says. "Then, enact laws and sanctions penalizing those who ignore the message. Finally, make sure you have the resources (i.e., staffing and training) to enforce these laws and sanctions."
Media contact:
Joe Young
[email protected]
434-985-9244
Press Release Service by Newswire.com
Original Source: Legalization of Marijuana Linked to Increased Traffic Crashes, Fatalities
Tokens are the wrong yardstick for AI agents, says JFrog’s Sunny Rao
Anyone who has spent 10 minutes pressing “0” to escape a voice bot knows how the last automation wave ended. Call centres were promised dramatic savings from IVRs and chatbots. Customers got phone trees that went in circles, and companies got a fresh layer of complaints to manage. Sunny Rao sold that promise from the […] The post Tokens are the wrong yardstick for AI agents, says JFrog’s Sunny Rao appeared first on e27.
Samsung finally redesigned the SmartThings app to keep up with its 470 million users
The interface change affects how information is presented and restores lost connections to its smart home appliances.
Google partners with DepEd, CHED, TESDA to upskill teachers in AI
MANILA, Philippines – Google Philippines launched the Google AI Educator Series (GES), a free bite-sized learning initiative for AI and Gemini training on October 13, 2026. The tech giant partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to reach public school
DOST explores Carabao mango as space food
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) is exploring how to develop Carabao mango into food for long-duration space missions. The project is set to be featured at the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW) on November 25 to 29, 2026, in General Santos City, South Cotabato. The
Coalition of states sues OpenAI, alleging it misled users on safety
A group of state attorneys general are suing the artificial intelligence firm OpenAI, accusing the ChatGPT-maker of illegally misleading users over the safety of its chatbot. Eight states filed lawsuits Wednesday, alleging OpenAI pushed forward with development of its AI products, despite knowing its products require safety guardrails. The bipartisan group of state leaders argue OpenAI...
Amid Ukraine uproar, Musk says decisions to restrict Starshield up to president
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday said decisions to restrict the speed or usage of Starlink's Starshield are made by the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president, as confusion swirls over Ukraine's loss of military access to the systems. It is not clear at this point what caused Ukraine's military to lose access to Starshield,...
Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force GX brings a PSP classic into a new era
TOKYO, Japan – Konami is going back to Duel Academy with Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force GX, a remake of the 2008 PSP title Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3. Yu-Gi-Oh! has been enjoying something of a resurgence in recent years, from new games to the remaster of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime. Shown at Tokyo Game Show (TGS)
GOP's Blackburn releases AI Kendrick Lamar video, to some criticism
Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn on Tuesday released a video appearing to use artificial intelligence to have her resemble rapper Kendrick Lamar during his 2025 Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance. The video depicts Blackburn, who is running for governor, on a football field, backed up by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.),...
84 percent of ransomware victims point to AI link: Report
More than 80 percent of ransomware victims in a new survey reported their attackers had weaponized artificial intelligence as part of the scheme, according to data made public Wednesday. For its 2026 Ransomware Risk Report, cybersecurity company Semperis and research consultant Censuswide surveyed 1,200 IT and security professionals across nine countries and eight industry sectors....
Ukraine says Starlink partially restored after Zelensky warned 'people will die' from satellite slowdown
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect Mykhailo Federov's current title. Ukraine's former defense minister said on Wednesday afternoon that SpaceX was working to restore satellite speeds in the country after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of dire consequences following reported slowdowns in Starlink services. Mykhailo Fedorov announced SpaceX was reinstating speeds of...
Japan to fund $21B deal to expand chip production in New York
Japan is helping fund a $21 billion deal to build two new chip plants in upstate New York, President Trump announced Wednesday. The country will provide $10 billion to speed up construction of a semiconductor fabrication plant from GlobalFoundries that the company aims to bring online by 2029, while another $10 billion will go toward...
Netflix laying off 6 percent of its workforce, marking biggest round of job cuts in years
Netflix's product, tech, legal and human resources teams would be the most impacted, according to a memo from co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos.
How Mediheal is evolving beyond sheet masks
Human rights: Lost in the “S” of ESG?
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.