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7 Harmful Side Effects Pot Legalization Caused Colorado
The Daily Signal ^ | 8/20/2014 | Cully Stimson

Posted on 08/20/2014 12:29:30 PM PDT by DouglasKC

SNIP

As I reported a few weeks ago, some professors published a peer-reviewed article on the negative social costs to outright legalization. I noted that although overall traffic fatalities in Colorado have gone down since 2007, they went up by 100 percent for operators testing positive for marijuana—from 39 in 2007 to 78 in 2012. (Colorado legalized marijuana for medical usage in 2009, before legalizing marijuana for other uses in 2012.) Furthermore, in 2007, those pot-positive drivers represented only 7 percent of total fatalities in Colorado, but in 2012 they represented 16 percent of total Colorado fatalities.

This new report paints an even bleaker picture of what is happening in Colorado since it legalized the possession, sale, and consumption of marijuana.

SNIP

1. The majority of DUI drug arrests involve marijuana and 25 to 40 percent were marijuana alone.

2. In 2012, 10.47 percent of Colorado youth ages 12 to 17 were considered current marijuana users compared to 7.55 percent nationally. Colorado ranked fourth in the nation, and was 39 percent higher than the national average.

3. Drug-related student suspensions/expulsions increased 32 percent from school years 2008-09 through 2012-13, the vast majority were for marijuana violations.

4. In 2012, 26.81 percent of college age students were considered current marijuana users compared to 18.89 percent nationally, which ranks Colorado third in the nation and 42 percent above the national average.

5. In 2013, 48.4 percent of Denver adult arrestees tested positive for marijuana, which is a 16 percent increase from 2008.

6. From 2011 through 2013 there was a 57 percent increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits.

7. Hospitalizations related to marijuana has increased 82 percent since 2008.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailysignal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cannabis; dopers; drugs; libertarianagenda; marijuana; pot; scam; wod
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To: DouglasKC

Some people think we are suffocating in marijuana smoke since legalization up here in WA State (actually it is forest fire smoke). In fact, I have yet to smell the stuff. Public mj smoking is illegal anyway. I guess many vape now, but I’m not seeing vapes either. My town and virtually all the other small towns around here (eastern WA) have banned recreational pot stores. Only one town has one and it is 30 miles away.


21 posted on 08/20/2014 12:50:33 PM PDT by steve86 ( Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: Rummyfan

How’s the WOD working for you? Which is worse?


22 posted on 08/20/2014 12:50:59 PM PDT by Sparklite
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To: heartwood

It’s hard for a stoner to get in a fatal wreck while he is sitting at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green.

;^)


23 posted on 08/20/2014 12:53:02 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("In the modern world, Muslims are living fossils.")
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To: wideawake

Dude?


24 posted on 08/20/2014 12:53:10 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: gleeaikin
If someone wants to get high and not be responsible then paint thinner and acetone
would be just a good as anything else to breathe.

If the POS died of Crack that's his problem. Farking up society isn't
the answer to stupidity. Maybe in Idiocracy where everyone is expect to be
equally stupid.

25 posted on 08/20/2014 12:53:48 PM PDT by MaxMax (Pay Attention and you'll be pissed off too! FIRE BOEHNER, NOW!)
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To: Vaquero

What were we talking about again?


26 posted on 08/20/2014 12:54:30 PM PDT by wideawake
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To: Fester Chugabrew
We will never put a solid LID on aberrant behavior, but it is prudent to understand it, point it out, and avoid it.

Pun? Or serendipitous?

27 posted on 08/20/2014 12:57:40 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: DouglasKC

Exactly what I thought. Legalization is stupid, unless you MAKE users take full responsibility for their actions. I knew what the outcome would be because the USA has become a country that refuses to hold people accountable.


28 posted on 08/20/2014 12:57:50 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
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To: wideawake

The windshield wipers.....there they go again!


29 posted on 08/20/2014 12:59:24 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: DouglasKC
Because the war on drugs, like drug prohibition of the 1920s was such a blooming success!
30 posted on 08/20/2014 1:00:38 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - Patton)
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To: Vaquero

The latter.


31 posted on 08/20/2014 1:06:00 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (Even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.)
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To: DouglasKC
Just love how the Drug Warrior contingent on FR (who call themselves 'conservative') just can't wait to increase the size and scope of government by re-imposing MJ prohibition, even though the citizens of a sovereign state voted overwhelmingly to end it.

Next thing you know, they'll be clamoring for Holder to come in and enforce the federal MJ prohibition laws in Colorado (10th Amendment be damned). Commerce Clause, doncha know ...

32 posted on 08/20/2014 1:12:32 PM PDT by bassmaner (Hey commies: I am a white male, and I am guilty of NOTHING! Sell your 'white guilt' elsewhere.)
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To: bassmaner

I would be ok with MJ legalization on the following conditions.

1. Employers have the right to test employees at any time and fire them at anytime if they are caught using.

2. Users are banned from welfare or any other benefits.


33 posted on 08/20/2014 1:14:55 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: DouglasKC

I’m a proponent for legalization, but it is kind of hard to argue those numbers.


34 posted on 08/20/2014 1:22:29 PM PDT by Ghost of SVR4 (So many are so hopelessly dependent on the government that they will fight to protect it.)
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To: DouglasKC
This new report paints an even bleaker picture of what is happening in Colorado since it legalized the possession, sale, and consumption of marijuana.

Amendment 64 was not enacted until the very end of 2012. Something to keep in mind since the cited stats appear to track things before the change in law went into effect.

35 posted on 08/20/2014 1:25:05 PM PDT by gdani (Every day, your Govt surveils you more than the day before)
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To: DouglasKC

These stats are awesome,

Unfortunately every single one of them predates the actual legalization, which did not take effect until 1/1/14.

The title of the article is simply wrong.


36 posted on 08/20/2014 1:28:05 PM PDT by dmz
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To: MaxMax

Expect it to get worse. The Potheads on FR will be making even more excuses.
I’m waiting for the “those stats mean nothing” crowd any min.

<><><<

Nope. the stats mean what they mean.

but it was not legal in colorado until 1/1/14. Not sure how stats from before legalization can be used to bolster the anti-legalization argument.

All of these stats were facts before legalization so the title of the article is more than a bit misleading.


37 posted on 08/20/2014 1:30:20 PM PDT by dmz
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To: DouglasKC

But...but...but...!


38 posted on 08/20/2014 1:30:58 PM PDT by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless, indisputable clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
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To: dmz
Unfortunately every single one of them predates the actual legalization, which did not take effect until 1/1/14.

No, that's just when retail sales started.

Otherwise, legalization happened in December 2012.

Still, your point about many of these stats being from before the law went into effect are correct.

39 posted on 08/20/2014 1:30:59 PM PDT by gdani (Every day, your Govt surveils you more than the day before)
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To: Slyfox

but it’s non addictive and pure man.. it’s not a carceno... wha? yeah, it’s okay to inhale the unfiltered smoke from a burning bud laced with a black tarry substance because it’s pot man, it’s not bad for your lungs man.. it’s non-carcenog... wait, wha?
nachos..


40 posted on 08/20/2014 1:31:38 PM PDT by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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