Marijuana is legal in some states for recreational use while in other states for therapeudic use.
Many users have found real relief from medical problems through marijuana:legalization has been a tremendous help for them.
Marijuana for medical use is approved in Florida, and the testimonials from Floridians are legion on how marijuana has helped them.
Medicinal marijuana was recently approved for smoking in Florida, and farmers have already begun cultivating marijuana.
The Dickman family, renown for Ruskin tomatoes for four generations, is now cultivating hemp in addition to their famous Florida strawberries and tomatoes.
But what about driving when on marijuana?
Here the picture changes: marijuana has been implicated in increases in traffic fatalities and injuries.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released the findings from their study in Washington, one of the first states to legalize marijuana.
Washington can serve as a harbinger as to what could happen in other states as more and more states legalize marijuana.
Mining the data from 2013 – 2014, the AAA found that the percentage of drivers involved in fatal car crashes more than doubled from eight to 17 percent between 2013 and 2014. One in six Washington drivers involved in fatal crashes had recently used marijuana.
The risks of driving while under the influence of marijuana are viewed differently, too.
Nearly 70% of Americans think it’s unlikely that a driver will get caught by the police while high on marijuana, and 14.8 million drivers report getting behind the wheel within one hour after using marijuana in the last 30 days.
Legal marijuana is new, and safety education campaigns are also new, unlike with alcohol and some prescription drugs.
But just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive a vehicle.
Never drive under the influence of any substance.
Statistics are crystal clear that this plays a big part in accidents and the law is equally clear on imposing stiff penalties.
What should you do if someone hits you, as a pedestrian or motorist?
If you’re hurt, call emergency medical services.
But don’t assume that you’re not hurt just because you don’t need an ambulance.
Many injuries don’t manifest until well after the accident.
Call Matthew Waring at Waring Law if you’re injured in an accident in Miami Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County.
Matthew Waring, Esq. has been on both sides of an accident: from winning for a client the compensation they deserve to being in an accident and feeling the pain and suffering of accident victims.
Time is important when injured.
You can’t afford to wait for the compensation you deserve, yet insurance companies will stall for as long as they can.
Matthew Waring is fighting to get to you your compensation and is At War With Delay.
If you have been injured in an accident in South Florida, call Waring Law today at tel:(954)-388-0646 for a free consultation.