Seattle Sober Coach: All Eyes On Colorado and Washington after 1 Year Study From Legalizing Marijuana
www.theaddictionscoach.com 1.800.706.0318
After a one year study, the state of Colorado has released some very surprising results pertaining to the effect the legalization of marijuana has had on the state and its economy. These results have blown the naysayer’s propaganda out of the water. First of all, overdoses and drug related offenses from other illegal drugs such as Heroin, Cocaine and Pain Medication has taken a dramatic dip.
One big concern from people opposed to legalizing marijuana was the fear of traffic fatalities due to impaired driving. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as statewide traffic fatalities have steadily declined overt he past 2 years.
Now concerning violent crime, the city of Denver saw a noticeable decline in 2014 and similar decline in 2013. The state has generated a tax revenue of 48 million with the fastest growing economy in the nation. Upwards of $8 million has been allocated to fund youth education and drug prevention efforts. And the state is enjoying economic growth and the lowest unemployment rate in years which dispels the notion that people would become lazy.
Now on to the state of Washington, where we find similar positive results. First, Washington has collected nearly $83 million in marijuana tax revenues. These revenues are funding substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, youth and adult drug education, community health care services, and academic research and evaluation on the effects of marijuana legalization in the state. Filings for low-level marijuana offenses are down 98% for adults 21 and older. All categories of marijuana law violations are down 63% and marijuana-related convictions are down 81%. The state is now saving millions of dollars in law enforcement resources that were previously used to enforce marijuana laws.
Violent crime has decreased in Washington and other crime rates have remained stable since the passage of I-502. The number of traffic fatalities remained stable in the first year that adult possession was legalized and usage among the youth of Washington has not increased. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two U.S. states – and the first two jurisdictions in the world – to approve ending marijuana prohibition and legally regulating marijuana production, distribution and sales. In the 2014 election, Alaska and Oregon followed suit, while Washington D.C. passed a more limited measure that legalized possession and home cultivation of marijuana. You can bet that similar results will come from these new states individual studies. For more information on new treatment studies and practices that use marijuana to fight opiate addiction as well as other drugs, contact us here at www.theaddictionscoach.com
