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It ’s the twenty-four hour period to celebrate for marijuana enthusiasts : April 20 , or 4/20 . Each year , thousands of pot supporter mark the " eminent " holiday by lighting up at precisely 4:20 p.m. But the pop jubilation may issue forth with a buzzkill : an increase in the risk of exposure of fatal railway car crash , a new sketch finds .
The study analyse datum onfatal car crashesin the United States over a 25 - class time period . The investigator home in on the phone number of driver who were necessitate in fateful auto crashes on April 20 between 4:20 p.m and 11:59 pm . They compared this with the number of drivers involved in fatal elevator car crashes on April 13 and April 27 ( which are a week before and a calendar week after April 20 ) .
A map showing the risk of fatal car accidents in the United States on April 20, compared with the risk on April 13 and April 27. Green corresponds to an increase in risk, brown to a decrease in risk, and yellow to a “neutral” risk (neither an increase nor decrease.)
The researchers found that , in total , there were 1,369 driver involved in fatal cable car crash after 4:20 p.m. on April 20 , compared with 2,453 equipment driver involved in fatal collapse during the same fourth dimension period on April 13 and April 27 combined . That correspond to 7.1 fateful crashes per hour on April 20 , versus 6.4 fatal crashes per hour on April 13 and April 27 .
Overall , there was a 12 percent increase in the peril of fatal crashes on April 20 , compare with the other days , according to the study , published today(Feb . 12 ) in the daybook JAMA Internal Medicine . The hazard was highest among driver younger than 21 , who saw a 38 percentage increase in their risk . The greatest increment in the number of fatal crash was seen in New York , Texas and Georgia , the investigator said . There was no growth in calamitous crashes before 4:20 p.m. on April 20 . [ 25 Odd fact About Marijuana ]
Interestingly , the study found that some states where recreational marijuana is legal , including Colorado and Washington , had a decreased risk of disastrous clangour on April 20 , compared with April 13 and April 27 .
A map showing the risk of fatal car accidents in the United States on April 20, compared with the risk on April 13 and April 27. Green corresponds to an increase in risk, brown to a decrease in risk, and yellow to a “neutral” risk (neither an increase nor decrease.)
One cause for this could be that these country already have a eminent level of marijuana uptake to begin with , articulate Dr. John Staples , direct author of the work and a clinical assistant prof of medicine at the University of British Columbia ’s Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences .
" It is possible that some Department of State with high radical rates of cannabis consumption exhibit little increase in ingestion on 4/20 , " Staples narrate Live Science . In improver , the work include datum for the last 25 years , and so it includes a time period of meter well before unpaid marijuana became effectual .
A longtime celebration — and public health risk
The4/20 celebrationwas first vulgarise in 1991 , and since then , upshot in city such as Denver , San Francisco and Vancouver , Canada , have grown to include ten of one thousand of mass , the researchers said .
Some study have feel thatdriving after using marijuanaleads to decreases in chemical reaction time ; and other study have linked marijuana intoxication with car crashes . It ’s not known how common it is for people to drive after smoking pot , but one survey of U.S. college freshmen at two large public universities found that 44 percentage of marijuana users say they drive soon after using marijuana within the last month . In addition , a 2017 sight on cannabis consumption in Canada establish that only half of marijuana users thought that the drug affected driving .
The researcher said that policymakers may require to deal these risks in places wheremarijuana is legal , and devote particular attention to strategies to curtail drive under the influence or marijuana .
" One - fifth of Americans now live on in state that have legitimatize amateur marihuana , and legalization is set to happen for all Canadians in July 2018 , " Staplessaid in a statement . " We hope that legalization does n’t lead to more citizenry driving while gamey . "
Previous studies have bump that other result are linked with an increase in aim human death . A2003 studyfound that there was a 41 percent increase in traffic fatality after Super Bowl Sunday , compared with other Sundays .
Given that far few people likely observe 4/20 compare with the numeral of hoi polloi who watch the Super Bowl , the risk understand in the new sketch ( a 12 pct addition ) is comparable in magnitude to the risk see on Super Bowl Sunday , Staples said .
If fewer than 10 pct of Americans drive while high up on April 20 , the researchers estimate that drug use at 4/20 celebrations more than doubles the danger of a fatal crash , pronounce study co - generator Dr. Donald Redelmeier , a prof at the University of Toronto .
The researchers hope that their results promote dominance to advocate for safe travel pick on 4/20 , such as public passage , rideshares , cab and designated drivers . Cannabis retailers and 4/20 issue organizations could also aid by warn users not to aim while high , they said . " Our finding should remind policymakers that traffic injuries are a preventable disease , " Staples said . Thoughtful insurance can obviate drugged driving and keep our roads safe , " he tell .
Original clause onLive Science .
