A recent conference in
the Phoenix area, “Legalized Marijuana: The Unintended Consequences,” organized
by MATFORCE and Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, highlighted
the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana. One of the sessions at the
conference focused specifically on the unintended consequences of legalizing
marijuana in Colorado.
For this week’s 5
Minutes for Families, I wanted to outline some of the problems Colorado is
facing after legalizing recreational marijuana in 2013.
Increase in Marijuana-Related Traffic Deaths:
from 55 deaths in 2013 to 123 deaths in 2016.
in the four-year average (2013-2016) since legalizing
recreational marijuana compared to three-year average (2009-2012) prior to
legalization.
· In 2009, 9% of all traffic fatalities in Colorado involved
operators testing positive for marijuana. By 2016, the number doubled to 20%.
· Marijuana, as a percent of all Driving Under the Influence of
Alcohol/Driving Under the Influence of Drugs cases is increasing since
legalization: 12.2% (2014), 13.4% (2015), and 17.2% (2016)
.
Increase in Youth Marijuana Use:
· Since Colorado legalized marijuana the youth past month marijuana use increased by 20%
in the two-year average (2013-2014) compared to the
two-year average prior to legalization (2011-2012).
· The latest 2014-2015 results show that Colorado youth ranked #1 in the nation for past month
marijuana use
.
· Colorado youth past month marijuana use for 2014-2015 was 55% higher
than the national average, compared to 39% higher in
2011-2012.
since legalization: 1,766 (2012), 1,980 (2013), and 2,363
(2014).
Increase in Marijuana-Related Health
Emergencies:
: 8,197 (2011), 9,982 (2012), 14,148 (2013), and 18,255 (2014).
: 6,305 (2011), 6,715 (2012), 8,272 (2013), and 11,439
(2014).
from 43 (2009-2012) to 134 (2013-2016) after
legalization.
o The number of marijuana-related poison control calls
involving children under 9 years of age
increased
206% post-legalization: 16 (2012), 26 (2013), 44 (2014), and 49 (2015).
· Children’s Hospital Colorado reported 1 marijuana ingestion among children
under 9 years old in 2009 compared to 16 in 2015.
· Percentage of Colorado adolescent suicide victims positive for marijuana
has increased post legalization: 13.5% (2006-2008), 13.8%
(2009-2011), and 16% (2012-2014).
Increase in Marijuana Culture:
· As of June 2017, Colorado has 491 retail marijuana stores
compared to 392 Starbucks and 208 McDonald’s.
· The percentage of adults 26 years of age and older using
marijuana is steadily increasing each year since legalization: 7.63% (2011-2012), 10.13% (2012-2013), 12.45% (2013-2014), and
14.65% (2014-2015).
· In 2012, out-of-state residents accounted for 78 of every
100,000 emergency room visits due to marijuana-related symptoms. By 2014, the
number increased to 163 of every 100,000 visits, a 109% increase.
has increase 914% post legalization, from 97 pounds
(2009-2012) to 984 pounds (2013-2016).
has increased from 184 in 2013 to 752 in 2015.
· Legalization of marijuana may have contributed to increase of homelessness in
Denver, from 28,000 accommodations per month in 2012 to 42,000
accommodations per month in November 2015.
The above numbers make
clear that legalizing recreational marijuana is bad public policy. It might
please marijuana users and fatten the wallet of the marijuana industry, but it
puts families and children at risk. To be sure, Colorado has benefitted from
tax revenues from the medical and recreational marijuana industry, but is .8% of the state’s budget worth all the harm it has
caused its citizens.
For additional reports
tracking the consequences of legalizing marijuana in Colorado see Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
(RMHIDTA).
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