(TNND) — Drugged driving is a growing problem in America, and both public awareness and policy are lagging behind those for drunken driving, a researcher said.

Andrew Yockey, an assistant professor of public health at the University of Mississippi, said drugged driving can be just as deadly as alcohol-impaired driving.

Cannabis is the most frequently detected drug in drivers killed in crashes, he said.

And legalization has contributed to more drivers testing positive for THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.

However, it is not the sole driver of the rise in drugged driving, Yockey said.

Other substances, especially opioids and stimulants, along with broader shifts in drug-use patterns, also play major roles, Yockey said.

“It’s this kind of interweaving of relaxed laws, meets ever-changing drug landscape, meeting … people’s perceptions,” he said.

Yockey pointed to a 2019 research paper that found the share of drug-tested drivers killed in crashes with drugs in their systems jumped from about 20% to about 30% over a decade.

Newer statistics aren’t available due to data-collection limitations, Yockey said.

At the same time, access to cannabis has opened up, with nearly every state allowing at least some level of medical use.

Nearly half of the states have now legalized both recreational and medical use of marijuana, according to the Pew Research Center.

And nearly 80% of Americans live in a county with at least one cannabis dispensary.

Yet people don’t think driving after using cannabis is as dangerous as driving after drinking alcohol.

Over 80% of cannabis users admitted to driving just hours after using the drug, a recent survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found. And nearly 20% believed their driving got “much better.”

But Yockey said cannabis slows reaction time and affects spatial awareness.

“Someone might ingest, I don’t know, an edible, and they may think that it’s safe to drive,” he said. “Well, obviously that’s going to impair your judgment.”

Opioids can cause drowsiness and dizziness, Yockey said.

Stimulants, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, may lead to overconfidence and aggressive driving, he said.

Unlike the clear legal limit of 0.08% blood-alcohol concentration for drunken driving, Yockey said states have a patchwork of laws to stop drugged driving.

All states prohibit drug-impaired driving, he said.

And many states have adopted zero-tolerance or THC “per se” limits, along with new tools like saliva testing.

But he said thresholds vary widely by state.

Cannabis presence doesn’t always equal impairment, he said.

And testing practices remain inconsistent, leaving significant gaps in enforcement and fairness.

Better roadside tools to detect actual drug impairment will help make roads safer, Yockey said.

But public education is also key, since many drivers underestimate the risks of drug use behind the wheel, he said.

For example, the Obama administration released a white paper on drugged driving over a decade ago that’s “still not being talked about,” Yockey said.

Yockey said drivers must realize that if they feel “different,” then they’re probably driving differently, too.

An investigation into south Mississippi businesses selling “alcohol, dangerous illegal vapes, THC edibles,” and other age-restricted or illegal items to underage customers has resulted in at least a dozen arrests with more possible, according to law enforcement.

An announcement by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office said deputies began an investigation in early 2024 after fielding complaints that some businesses in the county were purposely allowing individuals under the age of 21 to purchase age-restricted products.

Sheriff Jacob Garner said as the investigation unfolded, it quickly became clear that the issue was not restricted to Perry County. Law enforcement in nearby Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Greene, Jefferson Davis, and Jones counties had received similar complaints about businesses in their jurisdictions.

Local agencies teamed up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for over a year’s worth of identifying subjects, initiating traffic stops, and fielding more calls for service. It culminated on Sept. 11 after 20 search warrants were carried out, with 12 individuals being arrested for their involvement in the businesses selling alcohol, tobacco, and THC to minors.

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“Anyone who chooses to open a business in Perry County for the purpose of selling illegal narcotics, vapes, or THC products to children or adults will be arrested and prosecuted,” Garner said. “These items – disguised as safe or legal – are destroying lives and endangering the health and safety of our citizens. Business owners profiting off the harm of our children and adults in our county will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Garner added that many of the defendants, while operating in different counties, were working in tandem. The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol aided in the investigation that remains active.

The following list of arrests and charges has been announced by the involved law enforcement agencies:

• Khaled Alhamidi, 55, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking while in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.
• Akram Alhamidi, 25, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking while in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.
• Omar Obaid, 40, of Hattiesburg: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
• Gaizan Abubaker, 37, of Houma, La.: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
• Rami Selah, 32, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of an enhanced firearm.
• Bassel Saleh, 53, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
• Mark Shaibi, 24, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.
• Gabr Al-Gabri, 36, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of an enhanced firearm.
• Basel Rashad, 30, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking while in possession of a firearm.
• Anmed Elgabry, 30, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of an enhanced firearm.
• Mohammed Riyadh, 31, of Hattiesburg: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
• Ahmedou Mohamedlaamar, 22, of Perry County: Aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.

Donald Trump is reportedly looking at reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug in the US.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the 79-year-old president is ‘looking at’ making a huge change, which would make it easier to buy and sell weed, making the multibillion-dollar industry more profitable.

The publication’s sources claimed that during a recent fundraiser held at his New Jersey golf club, where tickets for the event went for a whopping $1 million each, the Republican leader first spoke of the potential plans.

He allegedly said he was ‘looking at’ possibly changing the classification of marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III substance.

In simple terms, this doesn’t mean it would make the drug completely legal across the US, but it would help ease restrictions on it.

Donald Trump is reportedly considering whether to reclassify marijuana in the US (Bloomberg/Getty Images)

At the event, speaking of tweaking the federal restrictions for the drug, Trump allegedly said: “We need to look at that. That’s something we’re going to look at.”

Then, according to The Telegraph, speaking at a press conference on Monday, the US president affirmed: “We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over, I’d say, the next few weeks.”

He reportedly added that the decision is ‘very complicated’ – so, let’s break it down.

How do US marijuana laws work?

At a federal level, marijuana remains illegal in the US as per the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, however, many states have made their own rules for cannabis use.

As we mentioned earlier, it’s federally classified as a Schedule I drug – this means that federal law considers it to have a ‘high potential for abuse’ and ‘no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States’.

But, despite its federal classification, 24 states plus the District of Columbia have fully legalised weed, meanwhile others have opted to only allow it for medicinal purposes.

Cannabis legalisation in individual states can be done in a number of ways, ranging from fully illegal to legal for both medicinal and recreational use.

If you’re in a state that has completely legalised recreational marijuana and you’re 21 or older, you have the right to use cannabis products for your own personal enjoyment.

However, this doesn’t always mean it’s legal to purchase – confusing, I know.

For example, while it’s illegal to buy marijuana in Washington, DC, it’s legal for anyone 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of it and grow up to six marijuana plants in the district.

So essentially, it’s all down to the state you’re in and their specific regulations.

America’s cannabis laws can be a tricky subject to wrap your head around (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

What would happen if marijuana became a Schedule III drug?

If Trump were to go ahead and reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, this would be a pretty big change up and down America.

According to the US government’s website, Schedule III drugs are defined as drugs ‘with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence’ and their ‘abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs’.

Some examples of Schedule III drugs are products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit, such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.

Meanwhile, Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Some examples include heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and as of right now, marijuana.

It’s important to note that the switch up would not make marijuana completely legal – it would just help ease restrictions and create more opportunities for medical uses and possible tax breaks for marijuana companies.

The Republican leader is said to be ‘looking at’ possibly switching marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug (Emilija Manevska/Getty Images)

Which US states is marijuana currently legal in?

States where marijuana is fully legal:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

States where marijuana is legal for medical purposes only:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia (CBD oil only)
• Hawaii
• Indiana (CBD oil only)
• Iowa (CBD oil only)
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Tennessee (CBD oil only)
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin (CBD oil only)
• Wyoming (CBD oil only)