Legalization of Marijuana: How Has It Affected Car Crashes?
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, toilet paper and groceries were not the only things people were stocking up on. Local news across the United States (U.S.) reported long lines at marijuana dispensaries and the global legal marijuana market skyrocketed, increasing 45% from 2019 to 2020. Similarly, a spring 2020 study done in Canada found that half of marijuana users reported increasing their use during this time period.
This recent surge has brightened the spotlight on marijuana, but what exactly is it? Marijuana is the name of products made from the Cannabis plant, which contains compounds called cannabinoids. One of the main cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and it can help treat nausea, chronic pain, and more. However, it’s mostly known for the euphoric feeling or “high” it produces, so many people use it recreationally for this purpose. For the past two decades, there has been a gradual integration of the drug into legal markets, with adult recreational use (in addition to medicinal use) currently legal in Canada, 18 U.S. states, and other countries. As the legalization of marijuana is adopted in more regions, the investigation into possible health benefits as well as its potential harm to public health and safety will continue.
Automobile accidents are an area of interest. Similar to alcohol, large amounts of marijuana can decrease driving ability. A team of researchers funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) investigated if the legalization of marijuana had a negative impact on road safety. From January 2013 to March 2020, they analyzed the number of car crash victims with marijuana in their system before and after Canada’s legalization of marijuana in October 2018.
This recent surge has brightened the spotlight on marijuana, but what exactly is it? Marijuana is the name of products made from the Cannabis plant, which contains compounds called cannabinoids. One of the main cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and it can help treat nausea, chronic pain, and more. However, it’s mostly known for the euphoric feeling or “high” it produces, so many people use it recreationally for this purpose. For the past two decades, there has been a gradual integration of the drug into legal markets, with adult recreational use (in addition to medicinal use) currently legal in Canada, 18 U.S. states, and other countries. As the legalization of marijuana is adopted in more regions, the investigation into possible health benefits as well as its potential harm to public health and safety will continue.
Automobile accidents are an area of interest. Similar to alcohol, large amounts of marijuana can decrease driving ability. A team of researchers funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) investigated if the legalization of marijuana had a negative impact on road safety. From January 2013 to March 2020, they analyzed the number of car crash victims with marijuana in their system before and after Canada’s legalization of marijuana in October 2018.
Image Source: UHGO
The research team studied moderately injured drivers and collected blood samples within six hours after the crash. They collected samples in the Canadian province of British Columbia, testing over four thousand drivers in total. They were sorted into three categories: those who only tested positive for THC, those who had more than 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in their blood, and those with more than 5 ng/mL. Testing for the THC levels in blood immediately after the crash allowed the study to escape inaccuracies from self-reported usage or post-mortem testing. Although the levels of THC measured in the drivers were lower than they actually would have been at the time of the crash, the average time the blood samples were obtained after the crash was the same both before and after legalization, minimizing the bias of the results.
The researchers found that after legalization, the number of crash victims with at least 2 ng/ml of THC in their blood had more than doubled. Older and male car crash victims with THC were the most frequent, and their numbers increased the most after legalization. Although these results only apply to British Columbia, Canada, they are consistent with the findings of a similar study done in the State of Washington. Consequently, driving laws on marijuana use should be revisited to deter marijuana users from driving, and countries should continue to consider this when deciding to legalize marijuana. However, understanding the complexities involved in the regulation of substances like marijuana, which has health and economic benefits in addition to potential negative effects on road safety and health, can be extremely difficult. Ultimately, the mental and physical health of all people should be the top priority as lawmakers and citizens continue moving forward in this process.
The researchers found that after legalization, the number of crash victims with at least 2 ng/ml of THC in their blood had more than doubled. Older and male car crash victims with THC were the most frequent, and their numbers increased the most after legalization. Although these results only apply to British Columbia, Canada, they are consistent with the findings of a similar study done in the State of Washington. Consequently, driving laws on marijuana use should be revisited to deter marijuana users from driving, and countries should continue to consider this when deciding to legalize marijuana. However, understanding the complexities involved in the regulation of substances like marijuana, which has health and economic benefits in addition to potential negative effects on road safety and health, can be extremely difficult. Ultimately, the mental and physical health of all people should be the top priority as lawmakers and citizens continue moving forward in this process.
Featured Image Source: Alesia Kozik
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