Pot Smoking On The Rise In The U.S.

Marijuana use has risen from 4.1% to 9.5% of the U.S. adult population according to national surveys conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Twenty-three states now have medical marijuana laws and four states, as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized marijuana for recreational use.

It should also be noted that since the legalization of medical marijuana in Colorado, drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes are significantly more likely to test positive for marijuana use. With changes in the drug’s legal status at the state level and a shift in beliefs about the risks associated with its use, the study’s authors adamantly conclude that there needs to be more public education about the dangers associated with marijuana use on its own and in conjunction with alcohol.

ABC’s Aaron Katersky joined us from New York with statistics.