[garjog]

Study: Fatal Car Crashes Involving Marijuana Have Tripled
February 4, 2014
http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2014/02/04/study-fatal-car-crashes-involving-marijuana-have-tripled/

[steve86]

It is typical, as in the link you posted, that they refuse to give the "marijuana only" accident statistics; that is, not mixed with alcohol. And they fail to provide the absolute numbers, only that they "tripled". Well 3 to 9 is tripled. Why the bashfulness about supplying the raw data?

Not only that, but the remnants of marijuana can be detected in the system long after (days, weeks) any effect on driving ability has ceased. Thus, even in the cases where they claim marijuana was present, it may have had nothing to do with the accident!

[Ken H]

ABSTRACT from November 2011

Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities,and Alcohol Consumption

To date, 16 states have passed medical marijuana laws, yet very little is known about their effects. Using state-level data, we examine the relationship between medical marijuana laws and a variety of outcomes.

Legalization of medical marijuana is associated with increased use of marijuana among adults, but not among minors. In addition, legalization is associated with a nearly 9 percent decrease in traffic fatalities, most likely to due to its impact on alcohol consumption. Our estimates provide strong evidence that marijuana and alcohol are substitutes.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/74180276/Medical-Marijuana-Laws-Traffic-Fatalities-and-Alcohol-Consumption-Study

[Caipirabob]

Just the thought of one of them attempting to find a radio station while driving is horrifying.