![]() A research study by Health Economics finds that states with medical marijuana programs have a lower risk of car accidents. The study analyzed insurance information and trends from auto companies from 2014 to 2019, and they found that auto insurance premiums decreased in states with medical marijuana programs due to fewer accidents on the road. The study wrote, “Medical cannabis legalization has reduced auto insurance premiums by $1.5 billion in all states that have currently legalized, with the potential to reduce premiums by an additional $900 million if the remaining states were to legalize.” Researchers theorize that this is due to drivers substituting alcohol for cannabis. Both substances alter people’s perceptions, but they theorize that alcohol prompts more reckless behavior such as drinking and driving, and marijuana may cause people to be more cautious and choose to not drive while under the influence. If legal marijuana does cut down on drinking and driving, that could save lives. Statistics show that drunk driving accounts for 10,000 deaths a year. More research needs to be done to further investigate the legalization of marijuana’s effect on traffic accidents, and drunk driving in particular. Comments are closed.
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