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Crash fatality rates after recreational marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado

Author

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  • Aydelotte, J.D.
  • Brown, L.H.
  • Luftman, K.M.
  • Mardock, A.L.
  • Teixeira, P.G.R.
  • Coopwood, B.
  • Brown, C.V.R.

Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate motor vehicle crash fatality rates in the first 2 states with recreational marijuana legalization and compare them with motor vehicle crash fatality rates in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization. Methods. We used the US Fatality Analysis Reporting System to determine the annual numbers of motor vehicle crash fatalities between 2009 and 2015 in Washington, Colorado, and 8 control states.We compared year-over-year changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates (per billion vehicle miles traveled) before and after recreational marijuana legalization with a difference-in-differences approach that controlled for underlying time trends and state-specific population, economic, and traffic characteristics. Results. Pre-recreational marijuana legalization annual changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were similar to those for the control states. Post-recreational marijuana legalization changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado also did not significantly differ from those for the control states (adjusted difference-in-differences coefficient = +0.2 fatalities/billion vehicle miles traveled; 95% confidence interval = -0.4, +0.9). Conclusions. Three years after recreational marijuana legalization, changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were not statistically different from those in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization. Future studies over a longer time remain warranted.

Suggested Citation

  • Aydelotte, J.D. & Brown, L.H. & Luftman, K.M. & Mardock, A.L. & Teixeira, P.G.R. & Coopwood, B. & Brown, C.V.R., 2017. "Crash fatality rates after recreational marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(8), pages 1329-1331.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.303848_2
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303848
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    Cited by:

    1. Meehan, Brian & Rusko, Corey J. & Stephenson, E. Frank, 2020. "(Pot)Heads in Beds: The Eect of Marijuana Legalization on Hotel Occupancy in Colorado and Washington," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 50(1), May.
    2. Marinello, Samantha & Powell, Lisa M., 2023. "The impact of recreational cannabis markets on motor vehicle accident, suicide, and opioid overdose fatalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    3. Michele Baggio & Alberto Chong & Sungoh Kwon, 2020. "Marijuana and alcohol: Evidence using border analysis and retail sales data," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(2), pages 563-591, May.
    4. Hansen, Benjamin & Miller, Keaton & Weber, Caroline, 2020. "Federalism, partial prohibition, and cross-border sales: Evidence from recreational marijuana," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    5. Mohammed Al‐Hamdani & Kayla M. Joyce & Tristan Park & Megan E. Cowie & Sherry H. Stewart, 2021. "Cannabis packaging: An opportunity for facilitating informed decisions," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 1150-1168, September.
    6. Anderson, D. Mark & Rees, Daniel I., 2021. "The Public Health Effects of Legalizing Marijuana," IZA Discussion Papers 14292, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Benjamin Hansen & Keaton Miller & Caroline Weber, 2020. "Early Evidence On Recreational Marijuana Legalization And Traffic Fatalities," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(2), pages 547-568, April.
    8. Francisco González-Sala & Macarena Tortosa-Pérez & María Peñaranda-Ortega & Francisco Tortosa, 2023. "Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Road Safety: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-22, March.
    9. Gunadi, Christian, 2021. "Does Expanding Access to Cannabis Affect Traffic Crashes? County-Level Evidence from Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Sales in Colorado," GLO Discussion Paper Series 964, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    10. Christian Gunadi, 2022. "Does expanding access to cannabis affect traffic crashes? County‐level evidence from recreational marijuana dispensary sales in Colorado," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(10), pages 2244-2268, October.

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