The Dark Side to MJ Legalization–17% Increase in Fatal Car Crashes

When marijuana use was legalized in certain states, many hailed this as a victory for individual rights.

Perhaps it was.

However there’s a deadly downside to this newfound freedom.

The headlines say it all.

Marijuana related auto accident deaths have dramatically increased in those states since the marijuana laws were passed.

What this means from a commonsense perspective is that way too many people are smoking marijuana and getting high there.

That’s an individual choice in those states and nobody can do anything about it.

But what Pittsburgh wrongful death, medical malpractice, car accident and criminal defense Bernie Tully doesn’t think is an individual choice is the consequences of the passage of the marijuana laws.

Driving stoned is just as bad as getting in the car drunk and driving your car.

No rational person can argue that if you’re stoned high after smoking marijuana that you can operate your car in the same way as a sober person.

What this study has pointed out is that too many people in those states believe they can.

What they are doing is getting high and then getting behind the wheel.

Auto accident deaths have soared from this reckless behavior.

Pittsburgh wrongful death, medical malpractice, auto accident and criminal defense attorney Bernie Tully believes that allowing these stoned marijuana smokers to drive on the highway is extremely dangerous to law-abiding citizens.

“Fatal accidents involving stoned drivers have soared in the state of Washington since marijuana was legalized there, according to a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Fatal crashes involving drivers who recently used marijuana more than doubled in 2014. Pot was involved in 17% of fatal crashes in Washington in 2014, up from 8% in 2013 — the year before recreational marijuana was allowed there.
“The significant increase in fatal crashes involving marijuana is alarming,” said Peter Kissinger, CEO of the foundation, which funds scientifically rigorous studies for the drivers organization. “Washington serves as an eye-opening case study for what other states may experience with road safety after legalizing the drug.”
AAA said the key result of the studies are that it’s important that drivers be aware that marijuana can greatly impair driving ability.
“Whether the use of marijuana is legal or not, all motorists should avoid driving while impaired,” said the group. “Just because a drug is legal does not mean it is safe to use while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who get behind the wheel while impaired put themselves and others on the road at risk”.

So there you have it.

My question to you is how safe would you feel driving in those states that have legalized marijuana knowing what this study concluded?

Thanks for reading.

Bernie the Attorney.