The number of marijuana users is increasing Driving while high – And it costs them their lives.
More than 40% of victims of fatal vehicle accidents over the past six years have increased levels of THC in the blood, new studies show. Drug screening was conducted during the autopsy process.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the major psychoactive compound in Cannabis plantwhich causes a “high” euphoria associated with drug use.
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A Wright State University-led study published in the Journal of US Surgeons reviewed data from 246 deceased Ohio drivers.
Researchers found that the average blood level was positive for THC at 30.7 ng/mL, according to a press release.
These levels remained high in six years despite the state’s recent legalization. Recreational cannabis.
The levels found in this study were much higher than the legal restrictions of THC. In Ohio and Nevada, the limit is 2 ng/ml and in Colorado, Washington and Nevada, it is 5 ng/ml. Many other states have a “zero tolerance method.” This means that detectable amounts of THC may be the basis for the DUI fee or “proof of failure” may be required.
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The study is expected to be presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Conference 2025 in Chicago this week.
“I was surprised to see that level,” said lead author Akpofure P. Ekeh in a press release, a professor of surgery at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
“Average levels of 30.7 ng/ml generally mean that those people must have consumed marijuana when they were close to driving. This is not about residual use, it is about recent consumption.”
Ekeh also pointed out that over the past few years there has been a push towards Legalization of recreation.
“The problem is that from a public health perspective there was ample emphasis on some of the downsides and dangers that could arise,” he said in his research article. “People should treat smoking marijuana like they do Treat alcohol: Do not smoke and drive. ”
Dr. Laura Merkley, medical director of Akron Children’s addiction services in Ohio, highlighted the dangers of driving.
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“THC delays reaction times, cloud judgement, and dull adjustments. And that delay of a few seconds can be the difference between a near miss and a fatal crash,” Merkley wasn’t involved. In researchtold Fox News Digital.
Even amounts under the legal level may not be safe, doctors warned.
“New research shows that any amount of THC can impair driving, and the growth in strength of the latest cannabis products can worsen or last longer,” she said. “meanwhile Science Still developing, the trend towards higher potency reinforces simple truth. The form of cannabis used before driving is unsafe. ”
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According to Markley, even those who are highly resistant to THC have slower reflexes, less reliable judgment, and a narrow focus.
Fox News Digital has requested researchers for comment.
