Study: States That Legalize Medical Marijuana Reduce Traffic Fatalities

Opponents of marijuana legalization often suggest that legalization would lead to an increased number of vehicle accidents. However, a new study from the Institute for the Study of Labor finds that states that legalized medical marijuana have seen a decline in traffic fatalities, the “leading cause of death for Americans age 35 and under.” According to researchers, states in which medical marijuana is legal saw a decline in alcohol use which, in turn, helped lower the number of traffic fatalities. “Specifically, we find that traffic fatalities fall by nearly 9 percent after the legalization of medical marijuana,” they said. As of now, 16 states have legalized medical marijuana and recent polls reveal that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe medical marijuana should be legalized.