Stoned Driver Crash Risk Grows as Legal Pot Spreads in the U.S.

Car accidents are happening more frequently in states that have fully legalized marijuana. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the finding in two new studies. The group compared car crash insurance claims in four states that legalized pot to nearby states. It found the frequency of the claims rose about six percent higher than in states where pot is illegal. In another study, it found a five percent increase in the rate of crashes in states that legalized pot. David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute, said the findings were concerning. “We’re seeing a consistently higher crash risk in those states that have legalized marijuana,” he said.