call: 
As the number of states across the country that are moving to legalize marijuana increases, there are fears that driving under the influence of marijuana could soon be seen as normal. That would simply increase the risk of accidents, because there is an established body of research that clearly indicates that marijuana does have an effect on a person's driving abilities.
In 2001, a new law that went into effect in Nevada eliminated criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana, based on medical reasons. Colorado became the first state in the country recently, to allow the sale of medicinal marijuana for recreational purposes. Other states are considering such laws, and very soon, the number of motorists who find nothing wrong in lighting up a joint while they are at the wheel, could increase.
According to several researchers, there is enough evidence to indicate that driving under the influence of marijuana does affect driving skills. Many independent researchers have found that there is a twofold increased risk of an accident, when a driver is operating a motor vehicle with any amount of THC - which is the active ingredient in marijuana - in his or her bloodstream.
Supporters of marijuana legalization say that these studies are inconclusive, and that there is nothing to state that driving under the influence of marijuana is even close to being as dangerous at driving under the influence of alcohol. While that may be true, the problem is also that while there is widespread agreement and understanding about the dangers of alcohol-impaired driving, motorists may fail to take the dangers of driving under the influence of pot as seriously. That attitude could worsen as more states lift restrictions on marijuana possession.
