AAA Northeast Comes Out Against Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY —The American Automobile Association and its Northeast branch, which includes Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Union counties, came out on Friday against legalizing recreational marijuana use, citing an increase in accidents in Washington State after legalization went into effect there in December of 2012. New Jersey voters will face a referendum to legalize recreational marijuana use during the presidential election this November.

In a press release issued by AAA Northeast on Friday, the organization said, "A concerning number of Washington state drivers involved in fatal crashes are testing positive for recent use of marijuana, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The share of drivers who, after a fatal crash, tested positive for active THC – the drug’s main psychoactive ingredient – has doubled since the state legalized marijuana in December 2012."

The release added, "AAA believes the increase raises important traffic safety concerns for drivers across the country, because recreational marijuana use is now legal in 11 states and Washington, D.C."

In New Jersey, much debate has raged over the legalization of recreational use of the drug since Gov. Phil Murphy, a proponent, was elected in 2017. Medical use of marijuana had already been approved in the Garden State in 2010, with adjustments over the years.

More recently, the state legislature voted on Dec. 16, 2019 to put a referendum for recreational use on the ballot. The public vote will be held on Nov. 3.

While drunk driving has gotten much attention over the years, talk of impaired driving due to marijuana may have gotten lost in the discussions over legalization. The released noted, "AAA opposes the legalization of marijuana for recreational use because of its inherent traffic safety risks and because of the difficulties in writing legislation that protects the public and treats drivers fairly."

The release cited research saying that between 2008 and 2012 – the five-year period before the drug's legalization for recreational use – "an estimated 8.8 percent of Washington drivers involved in fatal crashes were positive for THC. That rate rose to 18 percent between 2013 and 2017."

Lloyd Albert, the senior vice president of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast, said, “Results from the analysis suggest that legalization of recreational use of marijuana may increase the rate of THC-positive drivers involved in fatal crashes.”

The release noted, "Its effects vary by individual, but a number of studies have concluded that marijuana use impairs the ability to drive safely. Previous research suggests that users who drive high are up to twice as likely to be involved in a crash."

Currently, both recreational and medical use is legal in 11 states and Washington, D.C. Twenty-two states have legalized the substance for medical use only, and many state legislatures are considering it this year.

What is done to stop impaired driving? AAA reported that seven states have set legal non-zero, or “per se,” limits on the amount of THC drivers can have in their system. But according to the release, "While well-intended, AAA believes imposing such limits is problematic because no data reliably shows what level of THC impairs driving, the chemical’s effects vary by user, and THC testing often cannot be done until hours after a crash."

“Simply put, if you’ve used marijuana, don’t drive,” said Mr. Sinclair. “And if you plan to drive, don’t use marijuana.”

Last year, a survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that an estimated 14.8 million drivers report getting behind the wheel within one hour after using marijuana in the past 30 days, AAA said.

AAA suggested that to determine if a driver is impaired, officials should institute a two-pronged approach, requiring a positive test for recent marijuana use and noting behavioral and physiological evidence of driver impairment.

AAA Northeast represents the states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, and has 745,000 members in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties.

The North Jersey AAA office is located in Wayne.