According to a new study, four states that have legal recreational marijuana have seen their motor vehicle crash numbers move higher.

The number is 6% compared with four neighboring states where marijuana is illegal or restricted.

The study was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and shows that as more states legalize the drug, there will be more effort needed to prevent driving crashes due to the driver being impaired.

“What we’re seeing is a definite increase in crash risk that is associated with the legalized recreational use of marijuana,” said David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

Harkey said. “Impairment is impairment, whether it’s alcohol or marijuana or prescription drugs,” he told CR. “Any of those can affect your ability to drive a motor vehicle. You shouldn’t be behind the wheel if you’re impaired by any substance. That’s a message that I’m not sure is currently clearly conveyed.”

“There is lack of understanding about impairment risk, or impairment and driving risk, with respect to marijuana,” he said.


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