Study: legalizing cannabis has no undesirable social effects

A study published this month by Cato Institute, an American libertarian think tank based in Washington, found no association between the cannabis legalization and the expected negative social effects.

The report, entitled «The Effect of State Marijuana Legalization: 2021 Update»is interested in American states that have adopted reforms by mid-2018. This report, which had already been published the first time with less data, revealed that the projected effects, both positive and negative, were in many cases overestimated by supporters on both sides of the issue.

«At the time, our data showed that cannabis legalization at the state level generally had minor effects« wrote the authors of the report. «A notable exception was’increase in tax revenues from legalized cannabis sales; states with legal markets have collected millions of dollars in tax revenue.»

«New data reinforce our earlier findings,» say the authors proposing their update this year.

Cannabis and other drug use

The report examined the relationship between legalizing recreational cannabis and cannabis consumption rates and other substances. Although an increase in cannabis use was observed in the states that legalized it, this increase was in line with trends in place prior to the adoption of the reforms.

«States that have legalized show higher and increasing prevalence rates of use, but these patterns existed before legalization,» the report revealed.

Similarly, the authors found no link between cannabis legalization and the use of more dangerous substances such as cocaine.

«These data suggest no clear relationship between marijuana legalization and cocaine use. While Oregon experienced an upward trend in cocaine use after legalization, Massachusetts experienced a downward trend,» they noted. «In other states, including Washington and Maine, cocaine use rates are in line with national trends.»

Road safety

The report also examined the impact of the cannabis legalization on road safety, The first is that legalization will lead to an increase in the number of cannabis-impaired drivers, which will have a negative impact on safety. The first is that legalization will lead to an increase in the number of cannabis-impaired drivers, which will have a negative impact on safety.

Proponents of legalization, on the other hand, argue that it is likely to lead to a decrease in the number of users. number of alcohol-impaired drivers, reducing the overall danger. The report's authors cited research that found «no effect on traffic fatalities among states that have legalized».

Crime and violence

The authors of the report noted that pro and con against the legalization of recreational cannabis postulated that regulation might have an effect on crime rates, with «proponents of marijuana legalization arguing that legalization reduces crime by diverting marijuana production and sales from underground markets to legal venues.»

«At the same time, legalization can ease the burden on law enforcement to patrol for drug offenses, freeing up financial and human resources for law enforcement to fight more serious crimes,» they continued.

While opponents of cannabis legalization have warned that increased legal sales could also benefit the black market, the data examined by the report showed that «overall, violent crime neither rose nor fell as a result of cannabis legalization».

Data on the effect of legalization on other factors, including mental health and suicide, were also mixed. The authors also noted that economic and demographic outcomes were unlikely to see a significant impact from legalization, although governments could expect to see a substantial effect on their budgets.

«One area where cannabis legalization has a significant impact is in increasing state tax revenues,» they wrote.