A new study is looking at marijuana use and the rate of fatal car accidents, before legislators take action on a measures to legalize it.
A Siena Poll earlier this month found that recreational marijuana legislation had among the strongest support of any legislative efforts this year.
That said, it doesn’t mean advocates are done fighting the change.
The report, published Thursday, shows a rise in fatal crashes and the number of drivers involved with THC in their system. The American Automobile Association looked and the number of deadly crashes in Washington state, both before and after marijuana was legal.
The results showed a rise in the number of people involved in accidents with THC in their system. It was a nearly 10 percent increase.
Communications Specialist for AAA Rochester, April Engram, says the data is more than coincidental, according to 13WHAM-TV.
“The issue is that marijuana, it has been proven, it can affect your driving,” she told them.
Mary Kruger, founder and executive director of RocNorml called the data arbitrary.
“That type of data is pretty arbitrary because we know that just simply having THC in your system does not equate with being under the influence or being impaired by THC in any way,” she said. “We look at alcohol and we have these kinds of limits in place that we tell people – maybe a drink per hour. But you’re not sitting there taking a breathalyzer before you get into your car, right? You know yourself and whether or not you’re ability impaired.”
Many in law enforcement are opposed to change in recreational marijuana laws.
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