A new study suggests a link between dispensary marijuana and sharp rise in motor vehicle crashes involving serious injury.

 

The study, based in Canada, illustrates how four times the number of emergency room visits from motor vehicle accidents involve the use of dispensary marijuana over the past 10 years or so.

 

The findings are similar to a study conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in which reported use of marijuana by drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes from 2009 to 2018 nearly doubled.

 

In Indiana, marijuana is still against the law. However, some public safety authorities locally believe marijuana is catching up to alcohol as the source for driver impairment.

 

La Porte County Sheriff Ron Heeg said he’s not surprised at the findings, noting how he doesn’t believe the impact of dispensary marijuana in La Porte County has been nearly as large, but could be over time.

 

“We are probably seeing more than we have in years past, especially now they allow recreational marijuana in the state of Michigan,” he said.

 

Marijuana dispensaries just began emerging in recent months and years across the Michigan line outside New Buffalo, and other surrounding communities like Three Oaks and Buchanan.

 

Last week, a driver stopped for speeding on the Indiana Toll Road near Rolling Prairie was found with 15 pounds of marijuana products bought from a dispensary in Buchanan, Michigan. Charges are pending the outcome of an investigation.

 

Heeg said he has no doubt anyone possessing that much marijuana from a dispensary is probably selling it on the black market.