Enjuris Blog | Find Answers and Share Your Accident's Story

Finding answers after your accident

24/7 Free Consult   (800) 734-4134    Log in
  • Find a Lawyer
  • Accident Resources
    • Personal Injury Law
      • You’ve been hurt. Now what?
      • Do I have a claim?
      • Finding the best attorney to represent you
      • Dealing with Insurance
      • Laws by State
      • View all
    • Accident Types
      • Car accident
      • Truck Accident
      • Workplace injury
      • Wrongful death
      • View all
    • Workers’ Comp
      • Common work injuries
      • Finding the best workers’ comp lawyers
      • How workers’ comp benefits work
      • Personal injury vs. workers’ compensation
      • View all
    • Injury Guides
      • Spinal Cord/Column
      • Brain Injury
      • Occupational injuries
      • Whiplash
      • View all
    • More
      • Blog
      • Tell Your Story
      • Forms and Worksheets
      • Videos
      • For Students
      • About Us
  • Attorney Marketing
    • Become a partner
    • Contribute to our blog
    • Join lawyer directory
    • Enjuris Excellence badge
Home > Blog > Colorado > Driving While High: More Car Accidents on Marijuana Holiday?

Driving While High: More Car Accidents on Marijuana Holiday?

Contributor: Mack Babcock How can I contribute?

More vehicle fatalities on 4/20

Pot smokers’ holiday 4/20 sees 12% more fatal car crashes compared to control days

Marijuana users love a good holiday. Their self-proclaimed annual day of celebration is 4/20, or April 20th. Two researchers examined 25 years of data to determine whether the pot smoker’s holiday has resulted in an increase in car accidents. They found there are indeed 12% more fatal car crashes on April 20th. However, there is no conclusive evidence it’s due to people driving while high.

The reasons suggested for the name 4/20 vary — were officers coding pot smoking as “420”? It’s also Adolph Hitler’s birthday, some noted. However, the actual story is that in 1971, a group of high school smokers in San Rafael, California would meet at 4:20 p.m. by a statue of chemist Louis Pasteur and partake in a toke. They would use “420” as a code word to one another.

This holiday has persisted for decades. Two researchers were interested in whether the holiday, with more people potentially driving while high, coincided with increased vehicle fatalities. Dr. John Staples of the University of British Columbia and Dr. Donald Redelmeier of the University of Toronto decided to study a 25-year range of fatal April 20th car accidents, starting in 1992 and ending in 2016. Their findings were published by the JAMA Network in February 2018.

The study showed that 4/20 has 12% more fatal car crashes

The researchers discovered that there is an increase in fatal car crashes each year on April 20th. This follows trends of other major holidays like New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.

The study cannot directly link the rise in fatal crashes to marijuana use. But consider that sales in marijuana spike on that day – and there is a 12% increase in fatal car crashes. It doesn’t seem like quite a leap to think that the greater number of accidents could be caused by celebrators driving while high.

There were 1.3 million drivers involved in 882,483 crashes, which caused 978,328 fatalities. A total of 1,369 drivers were in fatal car accidents after 4:20 p.m. on April 20, while 2,453 drivers were in fatal accidents on control days during the same intervals. There were calculations involved when determining which day had higher risks, but suffice it to say that April 20th was significantly higher.

This increase in risk was particularly noticeable in younger drivers, and the states most at risk were Texas, New York and Georgia. Only Minnesota stood out as a reduction in risk.

Driving while high – what does marijuana do to drivers?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse led a federal research study on the effects of marijuana on driving abilities. Because THC can stay in the system for weeks, there is no reliable roadside test for police officers; they can only detect whether THC is present, not when the person used it. According to the most recent survey from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on weekend nighttime drivers, 12.6% tested positive for THC, which is an increase from 8.6% in 2007.

The study used 18 occasional cannabis smokers between the ages of 21 and 37. University of Iowa researchers put participants into a driving simulator (a hot 1996 Malibu sedan placed atop a dome). They tested each drive with a different combination of THC, alcohol and placebos to look at the effect of driving while high.

They focused primarily on whether drivers weaved within a lane, the number of times the car left the lane, and how fast they were weaving. These are all top indicators of impaired driving, especially with alcohol. While marijuana did show an increase in weaving (with 13.1 ug/L THC being comparable to 0.08% blood alcohol concentration), it did not affect the number of times a car left the lane or speeding. To be clear, 13.1 ug/L THC is far more than the 5 ug/L limit that Colorado imposes by law.

The researchers were also attempting to determine how long it takes for THC levels in blood to drop, since officers testing a drugged driver often must wait until hours after a driver is taken off the road, which can mean varying levels of THC.

Marijuana can also do the following to those driving while high:

  • Impair judgment
  • Slow motor coordination
  • Impede reaction time

Two large European studies found that drivers with THC in their systems are approximately twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as drivers who had not ingested drugs or alcohol. This can rise to three or even seven times more likely for drivers with high levels of THC from marijuana. When combined with alcohol, highs are more intense and make someone driving while high even more dangerous to others.

Need a lawyer who knows Colorado’s DUI laws?

If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident that involved marijuana, you are going to need an attorney who knows Colorado’s DUI laws. Email me here if you need a Denver-area lawyer who has experience with handling DUI cases and can help you.

About Mack Babcock

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Required fields are marked *. While our editors carefully moderate all comments, Enjuris cannot guarantee the authenticity or accuracy of the information contained in the post. Such information should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a professional. We always recommend consulting with an attorney or other legal professional if you require legal advice. Also, know that any information you provide in your comment may be published on our website, so please avoid sharing any confidential, private or personal information that you don’t want to be made public. Lastly, we will not publish any comments that we determine are promotional, hateful or inappropriate.

GET HELP NOW
Babcock Law Firm
The Babcock Law Firm Denver, CO personal injury law firm
FREE CONSULTATION (303) 683-5033 Specialty: Personal injury • Hablamos Español

Categories

  • News Stories
  • My Accident Story
  • Resources You'll Love
  • Questions & Answers

In Your State

AZ CA CO FL GA IN MT NC SC TN TX

Attorney Authors
Enjuris Partners

Denver accident lawyer Mack Babcock

Mack Babcock
The Babcock Law Firm, CO

Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer Laura Brown

Laura Brown
Brown Trial Firm, TX

Attorney Mark Chappell

Mark Chappell
Chappell, Smith & Arden, SC

Neal Davis

Neal Davis
Neal Davis Law Firm, TX

Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney

Natalie Elkins
Gerber & Holder Law, GA

Roger Finderson

Roger Finderson
Finderson Law, IN

Jack Fine, personal injury attorney

Jack Fine
Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, FL

Ben Gerber

Ben Gerber
Gerber & Holder Law, GA

Chris Gilreath

Chris Gilreath
Gilreath & Associates, TN

Award-winning Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney

Thomas Holder
Gerber & Holder Law, GA

George Lorenzo

George Lorenzo
Lorenzo & Lorenzo, FL

Matt Murphy

Matt Murphy
Murphy Law Firm, MT

Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy
Murphy Law Firm, MT

Bernard Nomberg

Bernard Nomberg
Nomberg Law Firm, AL

Brett Sachs, California accident attorney

Brett Sachs
Sachs Law, CA

Chelsee Sachs, California accident attorney

Chelsee Sachs
Sachs Law, CA

Charla K. Tadlock, Montana personal injury and workers' compensation attorney

Charla K. Tadlock
Murphy Law Firm, MT

Stephanie Tucker, Denver, CO workers' compensation attorney

Stephanie Tucker
The Babcock Law Firm, CO

Attorney Beau Wilder

Beau Wilder
Wilder Pantazis Law Group, NC

Wilder Pantazis Law Group

Rob Wilder
Wilder Pantazis Law Group, NC

Robert E. Wisniewski

Robert E. Wisniewski
Law Offices of Robert E. Wisniewski, AZ

Contributors

  • Terry Bryant
  • Jason Chalik
  • Daniel Clancy
  • Jacob Emrani
  • John Foy
  • Edward Friedman
  • Bert Louthian
  • Joseph Markey
  • Jim Parrish
  • Isaias Valencia
  • Steven G Wigrizer
  • Doug Zanes

Free E-Books

car accident e-book

I've been in a car accident I've been in a truck accident

truck accident e-book

What happens now?

What is Enjuris®?

A collection of resources to help people at a tough time in their lives. A place to share your story. A national directory of injury lawyers. Supporter of students, families, caregivers and our communities. How can I contribute?


Hire the right lawyer (800) 734-4134

Lawyer Directory
Car accident attorneys
Defective product attorneys
Personal injury attorneys
Medical malpractice attorneys
Wrongful death attorneys
Workers' compensation attorneys

Enjuris Partner Accident & Injury Lawyers

Gainesville, FL Personal Injury Attorneys
Tampa Personal Injury Attorneys
Lorenzo & Lorenzo (Tampa, Florida)
Finderson Law (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Wilder Pantazis Law Group (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Brown Trial Firm (Waco, Texas)
The Babcock Law Firm (Denver, Colorado)
Gerber & Holder Law (Atlanta, Georgia)
Law Offices of Robert E. Wisniewski (Phoenix, Arizona)
Murphy Law Firm (Great Falls, Montana)


Law students

Enjuris' Student Center is a resource for all pre-law college students and current law students. Learn how to get ahead in your studies and the career field, as well be a guest contributor to our blog and apply for one of our scholarships.


Partner with us

If your goal is to help people after an accident or injury – or to prevent them in the first place – we'd love to hear from you! We look to work with educators, healthcare and recovery organizations, insurance providers, law firms and other organizations. Get in touch to see how we can work together. Learn more...


Are you a personal injury lawyer?

Login Add your Firm Lawyer online marketing Free resources for attorneys Attorney / SEOs newsletter signup

Contact us today to get involved.
Services for attorneys
Personal Injury Law Firms Directory
Directory guidelines
Law firm SEO quote
Terms of Use


Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Blog Blog feed

SEO Advantage®, Inc.    SEOLegal Division, Lawyer Marketing    3690 West Gandy Blvd., Suite 444    Tampa, FL 33611    Contact us today

Enjuris is a platform dedicated to helping people who are dealing with life-altering accidents and injuries. We support students, families, caregivers and communities with resources, personal stories and a national directory of injury lawyers. Read more about Enjuris.


Copyright © 2022 Enjuris.com. All rights reserved. Terms and conditions The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. Our site and services are not substitutes for the advices or services of an attorney. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal advice. Privacy policy.

SEOLegal.com

Attention attorneys
and SEO firms
  • Make Enjuris work for your law firm
  • Exclusive offers & discounts
  • Content contribution opportunities