by: maria loreto, the fresh toast
newly released data indicate there’s a link between u.s. states with medical marijuana programs and a lower risk of dangerous driving and car accidents.
the data is part of a study in health economics
, which analyzed insurance information and trends from auto companies in the u.s. from 2014 to 2019.
study authors found that insurance premiums fell in states with medical marijuana programs because cars were involved in fewer accidents on the road.
per the research, premiums dropped by approximately us$22 dollars annually after states enabled their medical marijuana programs. researchers theorize that this is the result of fewer car accidents and drunk driving in these states, with drivers substituting alcohol for cannabis.
“medical cannabis legalization has reduced auto insurance premiums by us$1.5 billion in all states that have currently legalized, with the potential to reduce premiums by an additional us$900 million if the remaining states were to legalize,” study athors write.
while driving while high is dangerous and should be avoided and monitored, the fact that legal marijuana might curb drunk driving is of interest.
statistics show
that drunk driving accounts for 10,000 deaths a year, representing a little under 30 per cent of traffic fatalities.