My question is, what is the difference in vehicle death mortality since cannabis was legalized in those parts of the country. If it's about the same, it just tells me that cannabis is a very popular drug.
wiml 12/20/2025|
From what I understand, the effect of legalization (or decriminalization) on the amount of cannabis use is not straightforward at all. You'd have to factor that in somehow.
8organicbits 12/20/2025||
The lack of change after legalization of recreational use is interesting. How many deaths related to medical use versus (previously illegal but decriminalized) recreational use?
loeg 12/20/2025|
I don't think the user population changes much whether it's illegal, "medical," or legal.
econ 12/21/2025||
You wouldn't expect sober people to be more likely to die.
sanex 12/21/2025|
I remember reading that in an accident with one party intoxicated and the other not, the intoxicated party is more likely to survive because they are more relaxed and can take an impact better.
But of course sober people are less likely to get into single car fatality causing accidents I'm sure.
Don't be so judgemental, dying is traumatic! Who wouldn't want a little somethin' to take the edge off?
SilverElfin 12/20/2025||
I’m not surprised so many deceased drivers were under the influence of THC. I see people smoking and vaping at stoplights all the time. I am however, surprised this study claims legalization didn’t change the rate. Anecdotally, on the west coast, I’ve seen far more of this, and also people casually smoking in public spaces (parks or train stations or whatever) since legalization.
delecti 12/20/2025||
Are they necessarily smoking and vaping cannabis though? My vape is visually pretty similar to a tobacco vape, and vaping doesn't usually have much odor either way (unless it's scented vape juice, but I'm not terribly worried about cognitive impairment from bubble gum).
SilverElfin 12/20/2025||
As far as my experience goes, yes. I can tell by the scent. And actually at stoplights I can smell it even with windows rolled up.
fn-mote 12/20/2025|||
Obviously the study is not claiming that rates of THC use in general remain the same.
One possible reason: the “new recruit” people who are now willing to use cannabis BECAUSE it is legal are also rule-following by being willing to stay off the road after using it. Perfectly plausible to me.
gitaarik 12/21/2025|||
Just that you see it more doesn't necessarily mean it happens more
didibus 12/20/2025||
That could mean that THC is not causative, just coincidence.
casey2 12/22/2025||
The sign of a brittle system is constant feeling to restrict user freedom
quantumcotton 12/26/2025|
Does this actually mean anything or correlate with anything? Or does this basically say that 40% of Americans not driving age smoke weed or use edibles or THC of some kind at this point monthly? I don't but it seems pretty likely to not be that far off.