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Marijuana legalization reduces traffic fatalities
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Legalizing medical marijuana would reduce traffic fatalities by nearly 9% and cut beer sales by 5%, a new study shows. The study is the first to examine the link between medical marijuana legalization and traffic fatalities.
"Our research shows that legalizing medical marijuana reduces traffic accidents by reducing alcohol consumption among young people," said Daniel Rees, an economics professor at the University of Colorado Denver.
The researchers collected data from a variety of sources, including the National Drug Survey, CCTV, and the Accident Analysis System.
"We were surprised by how little we knew about the effects of legalizing medical marijuana," Reece said. "We looked at traffic crashes and their association with alcohol use. Traffic crashes are important policy-wise because they are the leading cause of death among Americans under age 34."
The researchers analyzed traffic accidents across the country, including in 13 states that legalized medical marijuana between 1990 and 2009. In states where marijuana was legalized, the researchers found a decrease in alcohol use among people aged 20 to 29, which led to fewer crashes.
Previous studies show that drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to underestimate their skills, leading to risky driving. Meanwhile, drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to avoid risks. Legalizing medical marijuana could lead to fewer traffic fatalities.
Opponents of medical marijuana say legalization will lead to more underage use of the drug. However, researchers analyzed marijuana use in three states that legalized it for medical purposes in the mid-2000s: Montana, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and found no evidence of an increase in underage marijuana use.
"While we make no recommendations, this study does show that legalizing marijuana would make our roads safer," Rees said.