States that legalized recreational marijuana saw approximately 3.5 fewer opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents, according to a new study released this month.
The research, which analyzed state-level data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that the reduction in fatal overdoses was most pronounced in states that implemented legalization earlier in the opioid crisis.
“Legalization led to an immediate decline in opioid overdose death rates, which grew even stronger and persisted after five years,” wrote the researchers from Texas Tech University, Angelo State University, Metropolitan State University, New Mexico State University, and the American Institute for Economic Research.
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States that adopted legalization later showed similar trends, though the effects typically emerged about three years after implementation, coinciding with the establishment of dispensary networks, the study found.
The researchers employed a novel statistical approach to examine the relationship between legalization and overdose deaths, which they say helped establish a clearer causal link than previous studies.
The paper, which has not been peer-reviewed, noted limitations including the inability to assess longer-term effects, as recreational marijuana legalization began only 11 years ago. The analysis also did not include data on non-fatal overdoses or hospitalizations.
The study was posted to the Social Science Research Network, a preprint repository for academic research. Read it here.
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One Response
The “War on Cannabis” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over two trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our yearly tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Cannabis”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. Especially now, due to Covid-19. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Cannabis has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records. Especially, if they happen to be of the “wrong” skin color or they happen to be from the “wrong” neighborhood. Which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Cannabis is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less cannabis “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now! Support Each and Every Cannabis Legalization Initiative!