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12h ago

Study Finds Two in Five Drivers Killed in One Ohio County Had THC in Their Blood

Researchers report Ohio’s 2023 legalization did not produce a clear rise in THC‑positive driver fatalities.

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Overview

  • An analysis of Montgomery County, Ohio, coroner records found that 103 of 246 drivers tested after fatal crashes from January 2019 to September 2024 were THC‑positive.
  • The average THC concentration among those who tested positive was 30.7 ng/mL, far above common per‑se limits of 2–5 ng/mL used in some states.
  • Postmortem blood samples were typically drawn within hours of death, which researchers say provides a closer estimate of impairment at the time of the crash.
  • The share of THC‑positive cases showed no statistically significant change after recreational marijuana was legalized in Ohio in 2023, averaging 42% before versus 45% after.
  • The findings were presented at the American College of Surgeons meeting in Chicago, and the lead author urged stronger public‑health messaging to avoid driving after using cannabis.