Does legalizing medical marijuana reduce fatal car accidents?
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Alcohol and marijuana are substitutes so when pot is legalized, drunk driving drops:
To date, 16 states have passed medical marijuana laws, yet very little is known about their effects. Using state-level data, we examine the relationship between medical marijuana laws and a variety of outcomes. Legalization of medical marijuana is associated with increased use of marijuana among adults, but not among minors. In addition, legalization is associated with a nearly 9 percent decrease in traffic fatalities, most likely to due to its impact on alcohol consumption. Our estimates provide strong evidence that marijuana and alcohol are substitutes.
Source: “Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption” from IZA Discussion Paper No. 6112 November 2011
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