Mothers Against Drink Driving and Uber are warning about driving under the influence of marijuana on the eve of the first legal retail sales of the brain-altering drug for recreational purposes in Massachusetts.
Uber riders are scheduled to receive an email message from the company Tuesday.
“Driving under the influence, like drunk driving, is preventable. Marijuana usage impacts the skills needed to drive safely. If you are under the influence of any substance, make the right choice and don’t get behind the wheel,” the email message states, according to State House News Service.
Uber and MADD work together to promote alternatives to driving while intoxicated.
The topic is particularly pressing in Massachusetts because marijuana is expected to be legally sold for recreational purposes for the first time in the state on Tuesday morning, in two municipalities – Leicester and Northampton.
Car accidents increased in four states that have legalized marijuana, according to a study released in October by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
State officials have been emphasizing the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana, which slows reaction time. It remains illegal. But unlike driving under the influence of alcohol, there is no handy machine like the Breathalyzer to measure the amount of marijuana in a person’s system.
