During this month’s midterm elections, voters in Maryland and Missouri legalized the recreational use of marijuana. In October, the Biden administration announced historic federal action on cannabis reform, reigniting the debate on cannabis’s value in health and wellness and its impact on our culture.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, as our federal and state governments take steps to decriminalize cannabis consumption, public officials need to send a clear message that it remains dangerous and illegal to drive under the influence of any substance.
The number of impaired driving crashes and deaths across the country is increasing at an alarming rate. Fatalities on our roads are worsened by drivers engaging in risky behaviors that include speeding, texting, or driving while high or drunk. Those of us working on this deadly and growing public safety threat strongly urge America’s leaders to communicate these dangers, especially the danger of driving impaired.
MEDIA ARE COVERING THE HOMICIDE CRISIS AGAIN, BUT NOT THE CAUSE OF IT
Thanks to public education and policy initiatives, awareness of the serious risks of driving under the influence of alcohol are well known. Yet, as more states legalize cannabis, a new public safety problem is on the rise. There are rampant misconceptions about the effects of driving under the influence of cannabis, and the absence of an awareness campaign…
