A recent study done by AAA finds fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana doubled in Washington after the state legalized the drug. AAA spokesperson Nick Jarmusz says the recent numbers are concerning...
"......they went from an 8 percent(fatal crash level) to 17 percent, that's about one in six drivers in Washington state that are involved in fatal crashes that has marijuana in their system...."
Jarmusz says blood alcohol tests for intoxication and impairment are standard for alcohol levels in a driver's system, but he says the impairment levels for marijuana are far less reliable.. .
"...is there a line we can draw (counting) how much of the drug is in your system that would determine whether it is safe or not to drive. Our research indicates it's virtually impossible given the tools we have...."
Depending on the individual, drivers with low levels of THC in their blood may be unsafe behind the wheel, while others with relatively high levels might not be impaired. Jarmusz says frequent users of marijuana can exhibit persistent levels of the drug long after use, while drug levels can decline more rapidly among occasional users. He says more study is needed, but states should use other scales to judge impairment for marijuana than the standards used for alcohol.
Four states, including Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C., have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, and 20 states have legalized it for therapeutic and medicinal use. Montana, Washington, Nevada, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Washington have implemented a per se limit for marijuana. Twelve states forbid the presence of any levels of marijuana.
