“Study: Fatal Car Crashes Declined After Oregon Legalized Cannabis,” it cited research conducted by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. When I searched for the original study, I found that it was actually titled, “Study of Fatal Car Accidents Shows Medical Marijuana May Help Curb Opioid Use.” The conclusion of the article was that, after marijuana legalization, instances of opioid-related car crashes may be down. However, because the study did not give any data about the reduced number of crashes, it becomes dangerous to base any conclusions on it. It is important to interpret only what the data says and not what we want the data to say. Legalization of marijuana is a very
trended downward over the last eight years, with each data point lower than the year before. While still largely above the national average, are these numbers just beginning to tell another tale? It will remain a point of interest and exploration. Finally, let’s consider highway safety.
Voices on both sides of the debate disagree about how legalization will alter the safety of our roads. • Te Denver State Police Department reports that marijuana-related arrests of those driving under the influence doubled in 2013 and 2014. Tese numbers refer only to drivers who tested negative for alcohol and positive for marijuana.5
increase of marijuana-related traffic deaths in Colorado in the years before and aſter legalization, which was 14.1 percent over a nine-year time span.
Te graph shows the gradual
• Te Washington State Impact Report details a significant change in drivers who were involved in fatal accidents who test positive for THC. According to the report, data was gathered from 2010 to 2014 and examined 3,027 drivers who were involved in deadly crashes. Blood tests were conducted by the Washington State Toxicology Laboratory on 1,773 of the drivers—of which, 59.8 percent tested positive for alcohol, marijuana, or drugs, with marijuana being the most commonly used drug in the test group. Further, they reported a 122.2 percent increase in positive tests that found THC alone in drivers involved in fatal crashes over the years the study was conducted. Although there are many articles on
the internet suggesting that accidents are down after marijuana legalization, one in particular caught my attention. Titled,
complicated issue. Even when we have large amounts of data, it is not easily summarized or analyzed. Apart from any moral opinions, which I can only forsake for the purpose of objectivity, there must be some clear indication of whether marijuana legalization will be more of a benefit or a hindrance. Ultimately, that decision cannot be reached with opinion alone. Rather, it requires logical conclusions made through a careful study of facts. Based on the evidence presented thus
far, we need not fear a tremendous rise in crime due to marijuana legalization; but we must understand that, in general, these types of crimes are receiving less atention from law enforcement. Evidence points to reduced involvement from law enforcement and therefore fewer documented instances of marijuana- related criminal activity. Additionally, when we look at unemployment rates—a
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datia focus
summer 2017
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