• Skip to main content

USA Mobile Drug Testing

  • Services
    • Drug Testing
    • Background Screening
    • Training and Support
    • Consumer Services
  • Customer Login
  • Blog
  • Drug Testing Locations
  • Contact

Marijuana Mortality? It’s Simply Not a Safe Drug

Home / Drug News / Marijuana Mortality? It’s Simply Not a Safe Drug

May 20, 2019 by David Bell

Last updated: January 23, 2023

Normally, we don’t combine the words “marijuana” and “mortality” together in the same sentence. However, with medical marijuana now legal in 23 states and recreational use allowed in 10 others, insurance companies understandably want to put two and two together.

The new horizon is hazy

To date, studies looking at the marijuana mortality rate and the general population are few and far between.

What effect does using marijuana have on:

  • Direct medical effects of marijuana use—primarily respiratory cancers
  • Direct behavioral effects—mainly impaired-driving vehicle accidents, but some studies showed suicide to be a factor
  • Indirect lifestyle correlates—these are based on other recreational drug use; also some studies showed an increase in high-risk infections such as HIV or HCV

The underwriting criteria for tobacco and alcohol use is long-standing and well-established. Where does the marijuana user fit into the scope of things?

What does the data show?

The need for information becomes more important to insurance carriers by the day. Last year, ExamOne, a Quest Diagnostics company, took it upon themselves to find some answers. The study looks at marijuana mortality compared to an applicant’s age, gender, and tobacco status.

The ExamOne study revealed a fairly strong link regarding men, THC status, and mortality rates.

In looking at the results of the data used by the ExamOne study, the most relevant link is in the lifestyle correlation. The mortality odds ratios were highest regarding illegal drug use combinations. PCP, cocaine, and methamphetamine had the highest stats, but all illegal drugs play a part to some degree. The exception to the rule is barbiturate abuse with results of less than 1%.

This link suggests a meaningful sociocultural barrier between legal and illegal drug users. We saw that one coming a mile away.

Also, PCP use shows the highest mortality rate at 24.8%. This link is representative of the fact that smoking a marijuana and PCP combination is one of the more common modes of consumption for PCP. PCP use is very rare. However, the risk of PCP overdose is high no matter how it is ingested. It is a very dangerous drug.

Stoned driving

The ExamOne study notes that, as a whole, it lacks the data to directly test the hypothesis of the behavioral effect of THC and impaired driving. However, a growing number of states have established a statistical link between the two.

In April 2018, The HLDI (Highway Loss Data Institute) released a bulletin entitled Recreational marijuana and collision claim frequencies. It looked directly at data collected from states that have passed marijuana legalization. Although the statistic associated with increased collision rates was just 6%, the data used positively concluded that there is an increased risk among men who were impaired by THC.

Time tells a tale

At the moment, there is not enough evidence to support that marijuana causes respiratory cancers, but studies continue.

The concern is a valid one. Tobacco use causes cancer. Marijuana contains the same carcinogens as tobacco. It stands to reason that continued, long term use will yield the same result. At this time, there is no research that concludes this thought is true.

However, we know that marijuana contains chemicals that are lung irritants and tumor promoters. Also, smoke, in general, is damaging to our lungs. Marijuana smoke is likely to cause COPD with long-term use. This chronic lung disease has no cure.

For now, studies prove an increased rate of accidents in states that have legalized marijuana. Insurance carriers are advised to take a hard look at the driving histories of clients who admit smoking marijuana and noting any indications of other recreational drugs.

Filed Under: Drug News

Ready to learn more or schedule a drug test?

Service area:

USA
Canada

Find a drug testing location

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

About David Bell

After seeing the damage caused by drug use first-hand, David sold his previous company and worked his way up through the ranks in the drug testing industry to help employers keep drugs and alcohol out of the workplace.

© USA Mobile Drug Testing

800-851-2021

11016 N Dale Mabry Hwy #204
Tampa, FL 33618


  • Headquarters Website
  • Franchise Information
  • Become an Affiiliate

Drug Testing Methods

  • Urine Drug Test
  • Mouth Swab Drug Test
  • Hair Drug Test
  • Blood Drug Test

Drug Testing Panels

  • 5 Panel Drug Test
  • 9 Panel Drug Test
  • 10 Panel Drug Test
  • 12 Panel Drug Test

Drug Testing Conditions

  • Pre-Employment Drug Testing
  • Random Drug Testing
  • DOT Drug Testing
  • Reasonable Suspicion Drug Testing
  • Post-Accident Drug Testing
  • Probation Drug Testing

Web design by Spartan Media

Do you need a drug test conducted at a certain date and time? Call us at and we will dispatch a mobile collection specialist to administer your drug tests at any location, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

x

Are you looking for more information about drug testing, a drug free workplace program, or compliance? Call us at and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have and tailor a program to your specific needs.

x