To date, 24 states in the United States have legalized the recreational use of cannabis (THC). In a study conducted by the American College of Surgeons, over 40 percent of drivers who died in motor vehicle crashes tested positive for THC in their blood, states Monmouth Police Chief Joe Switzer:
“Research is indicating that about 41.9 percent of drivers who died in crashes across the country tested positive for THC, which is the part of marijuana that you receive the high from. That is a pretty high number for people having those THC levels in their blood that would push them into the impaired area. It says Illinois numbers are less clear, but the State Police enforcement data does show a surge of 68 percent in cannabis involved crashed form fiscal years 2022 to 2023. THC, marijuana, it is an intoxicating compound. Even though it is legal, just like alcohol, there are limits to what you can have in your blood.”
Meanwhile, for the month of September, Chief Switzer reports the Monmouth Police Department made 55 arrests, issued 118 citations, 3,664 calls came into the dispatch center, 1,671 were handled by the department, 3,238 total calls were dispatched out in the county, responded to 28 accidents, and the officers worked 18 grant hours.
