For adults, the possession and use of marijuana in small amounts has been legal in Connecticut since 2021.
Whether one favors this loosening of drug policy or disagrees with it, studies have suggested that in recent years, as society’s stance on the use of marijuana has changed, the percentages of traffic fatalities related to cannabis has spiked.
According to the study, which is published in an online National Library of Medicine supported by the National Institutes of Health, the percentage of crashes involving marijuana or other cannabis products increased from 9.0% in 2000 to 21.5% almost 20 years later.
Fatalities involving a mixture of alcohol and cannabis also more than doubled over the same period.
According to the study, alcohol consistently contributed to around 40% of crash fatalities during the time surveyed.
The study took no position on whether it was a good policy decision to legalize marijuana. It also should be noted that the study is based on data through 2018, prior to Connecticut’s legalization of marijuana.
Connecticut drivers continue to have an obligation to be sober
A good takeaway from this study for all Connecticut drivers is that driving while under the influence of marijuana has been and remains both illegal and dangerous.
Motorists who live or who are passing through this state have an obligation to operate their vehicles while sober.
No matter the drug, someone driving under the influence is prone to operating errors and making serious mistakes in their judgment, both of which can cause severe and fatal accidents.
Those in Northeastern Connecticut who are the victim of a drugged driver may have legal options to pursue compensation from the driver.
Often, the victim or the family will need this compensation to recover financially from a catastrophic accident. Pursuing compensation is also a way to hold those who operate under the influence accountable for their actions.