Passage of Medical MJ Laws Associated With Reduced Number of Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities

[limpyhobbler]

The passage of medical cannabis laws is associated with a reduction in the public’s consumption of alcohol and with fewer incidences of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, according to data published in the Journal of Law and Economics.

Investigators at Montana State University, the University of Oregon, and the University of Colorado assessed data regarding both alcohol consumption and traffic fatality rates for the years 1990 to 2010.

Authors wrote: “Using individual-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) …, we find that MMLs (medical marijuana laws) are associated with decreases in the probability of [an individual] having consumed alcohol in the past month, binge drinking, and the number of drinks consumed.”

Researchers further acknowledged that this general decline in the public’s use of alcohol was likely responsible for a parallel decline in the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities.
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more at: http://blog.norml.org/2013/08/13/study-passage-of-medical-marijuana-laws-associated-with-reduced-incidences-of-alcohol-related-traffic-fatalities

[tridim]

1. Wow! That is a statistic that everyone can understand, even politicians.

Put another way, Cannabis is reducing alcohol related death. That is HUGE!

I'm really starting to think that Cannabis prohibition was one of the biggest mistakes in all of human history. It makes no sense whatsoever, even before we learned about all the benefits.

[limpyhobbler]

3. Completely agree. Huge mistake

Huge mistake.

[Isoldeblue]

2. What a wonderfully unexpected

benefit! I would not have thought of that.
Let the kind herb be available to those that need relief, legally and save lives as well!!

[limpyhobbler]

4. Makes sense because it seems like when people smoke it then tend not to drink as much. nt

[99th_Monkey]

5. K & Reefer ~nt

[RainDog]

6. harm reduction

is a good thing.