There are certainly benefits to legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. States receive more tax revenue. An undue burden is lifted off the judicial system for marijuana crimes and crime is reduced with the collapse of the black market for the drug. In the past few months the state of New York has been swept up in debate over the legalization with the proposal of the Cannabis Regulation & Taxation Act. As with all decisions, it is not enough to consider the benefits of legalization alone. The benefits must also be weighed against the cons.
The attorneys at Siler & Ingber, LLP have helped accident victims recover from crashes caused by drugged drivers. “We’ve seen these types of crashes have terrible, long-term impacts on drivers and their families. Many if not all of these drugged driving crashes are preventable,” said managing partner, Ronald Ingber. “When we heard talk of legalization, we feared these types of crashes might increase. We started digging into states where recreational use was already legal and what we found has confirmed our fears.”
Overall, crashes in states that have legalized recreational marijuana have increased 5.2% in comparison to neighboring states that have not. Drugged driving fatalities have increased 153% since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado.
The firm used real numbers in Colorado to project what New York might look like if Governor Cuomo’s proposed act passes. The firm estimates the following statistics per year if the act is passed:
- 408 drugged driving fatalities
- 12,133 marijuana-related hospitalizations
- 1,946 marijuana-related DUI citations
You can view the full analysis here. The firm hopes that the study will help New York residents think critically about the proposed act as they decide whether or not it makes sense for the state. There are many hurdles to ensuring road safety with legalized recreational marijuana and it will be some time before those hurdles can be overcome. Until then, legalization may jeopardize road safety.
About Siler & Ingber, LLP: Siler & Ingber, LLP is a personal injury law firm based out of Mineola, New York. For over 20 years, the firm has helped protect the rights of injured New York accident victims. Outside of the courtroom, the firm passionately advocates for safer road habits and governing policies. To learn more, click here.
