Report Finds Nearly Half of Fatal Car Accidents Tied to Marijuana
A recent report found nearly half of drivers killed in car accidents had THC levels well above legal DUI limits.
THC is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana. The study led by Wright State University and published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons analyzed coroner records in Ohio from 2019 to 2024. Researchers found 41.9% tested positive for active THC in their blood, with an average level of 30.7 ng/mL. For perspective, the legal limit for driving under the influence of THC in Colorado is 5 ng/mL.
Unfortunately, marijuana use has been linked to fatal accidents for years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the CDC report that after alcohol, marijuana is the substance most often associated with impaired driving.
In Colorado, traffic fatalities where the driver tested positive for marijuana have increased 138% after the state legalized marijuana in 2013, and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Washington doubled following legalization.
The dangers extend beyond the road. Marijuana has also been linked to deadly heart problems — including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease. Experts also have found heavy marijuana use is strongly linked to a 325% increased risk of oral cancer.
Studies like these should matter to Arkansans, because marijuana industry insiders worked unsuccessfully to expand marijuana in Arkansas via the state’s ballot initiative process in 2022 and 2024. Fortunately, neither of those measures passed.
All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
