Citation

Sevigny EL. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2018; 118: 57-65.

Affiliation

Georgia State University. Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, 55 Park Place NE, Suite 519, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Electronic address: esevigny@gsu.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2018.05.023

PMID

29885927

Abstract

This study uses data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and a differences-in-differences model to examine the effect of state medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on cannabis-involved driving among U.S. drivers involved in a fatal crash between 1993-2014.

FINDINGS indicate that MMLs in general have a null effect on cannabis-positive driving, as do state laws with specific supply provisions including home cultivation and unlicensed or quasi-legal dispensaries. Only in jurisdictions with state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries did the odds of marijuana-involved driving increase significantly by 14 percent, translating into an additional 87 to 113 drivers testing positive for marijuana per year. Sensitivity analyses reveal these findings to be generally robust to alternate specifications, although an observed spillover effect consistent with elevated drugged driving enforcement in bordering states weakens a causal interpretation. Still, reasonable policy implications are drawn regarding drugged driving prevention/enforcement and regulations governing dispensary delivery services and business siting decisions.

Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving


Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Cannabis-involved driving; Differences-in-differences; Fatality analysis reporting system; Medical marijuana laws; Multiple imputation