More Proof That Legalizing Pot Was The Right Move

(This image is from thedenverchannel.com.)

The anti-marijuana legalization forces in Colorado did their best to convince Coloradans that legalizing marijuana in that state would be disastrous. They told them that crime would increase -- but we now know that wasn't true. As I have written before, all types of crime have decreased since the gentle herb went on sale in that state.

The other argument used was that legalizing marijuana would result in more traffic deaths because there would be more drivers under the influence of marijuana. Studies have shown that drivers are no more dangerous after smoking marijuana than drivers who have used no drug (and far safer than those drinking alcohol), but those studies are not widely known about -- so the marijuana haters were able to generate a certain amount of fear (but fortunately not enough to stop legalization).

Now there is evidence from the Colorado Department of Transportation that shows the fear there would be an increase in traffic fatalities was just as unfounded as the fear of an increase in crime. Note on the chart below (from the Washington Post) that traffic fatalities in 2014 (the green line) are not only lower than those for 2013, but also lower than the average of all years since 2002 (and they are falling).

Colorado citizens have not been endangered by the legalization of marijuana, either by an increase in crime or in traffic deaths, because both have decreased. And the state has been able to add millions of dollars in taxes to both state and local coffers. The people of Colorado made the right decision in legalizing marijuana -- and now it is time for other states to follow suit.