Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jun 2014
Source: Blade, The (Toledo, OH)
Copyright: 2014 The Blade
Contact:  http://www.toledoblade.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/48
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?197 (Marijuana - Medicinal - Ohio)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?275 (Cannabis - Michigan)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)

DRUGGED DRIVING

Society is increasingly coming to accept that marijuana has some 
legitimate medical uses. Though a bill to legalize it is still 
languishing in the Ohio General Assembly, medical marijuana is now 
allowed in 22 states, including Michigan, where voters overwhelmingly 
approved it six years ago.

And those who love grass are also pushing for its legalization for 
recreational use. Colorado has effectively decriminalized pot. Up to 
a dozen Michigan towns may have largely symbolic proposals to 
decriminalize marijuana on the ballot this year.

The morality of marijuana use will continue to be debated but other, 
more pragmatic concerns such as traffic safety must also be considered.

Driving a car while under the influence -- whether it's marijuana or 
tequila -- is dangerous. Thanks largely to safer automobiles, seat 
belt use, and relentless campaigns against drunken driving, the 
number of highway fatalities has fallen dramatically in recent 
decades, from more than 50,000 a year in 1980 to barely over 30,000 nowadays.

Still, there are more than 10,000 alcohol-related traffic fatalities 
every year. And new research indicates that looser restrictions on 
grass may make the problem worse.

Columbia University researchers found that marijuana contributed to 
one in every eight traffic deaths in 2010 -- triple the rate of a 
decade before. Statistics also show a significant jump in 
marijuana-involved fatalities in Colorado.

These findings ought to give everyone pause. The National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration is completing a three-year study of the 
effects of pot on driving performance. Those eager to relax 
regulations might want to await the results, then proceed with caution.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom