proportion of marijuana-related traffic fatalities moved from 2% in 2013 to 8% in 2014, the year of legalization [26]. Impact on Healthcare Utilization The data point to an increase in the number of marijuana-related health incidence since its legalization in Colorado. According to a 2017 report, “The yearly rate of emergency department marijuanarelated visits rose 35 percent after the legalization of recreational marijuana (2011-2012 vs. 20132015)”. Moreover, “the yearly number of marijuana-related hospitalizations increased 72 percent after the legalization of recreational marijuana (2009-2012 vs. 2013-2015)”.[30]. Additionally, Washington State showed an interesting trend since marijuana legalization. Between 2011 and 2013, there was an average of 155 marijuana-related calls per year to the Poison Control Center, however from 2014 to 2016 the average number of calls surged to 268, a 73% increase. Furthermore, “Population-based rates of state-sponsored Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment for marijuana use among youths had been increasing by 5 percent per year from 2006 to 2012. However, from 2012 to 2015, those rates decreased by 13 percent per year. SUD rates for other drugs have been decreasing by nine percent per year from 2009 to 2015”. [32]. However, as one report noted, much of these increases have been the result of “poorly controlled use of [marijuana] edibles246” among specific population groups, including the young, tourists and older members of the population[33]. Impact on Crime and Law Enforcement Costs In some instances, an increase in some marijuana-related crimes has coincided with the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado. Data from the Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) show that the 2013-2016 four-year average of marijuana highway prohibition confiscations in Colorado soared 43% over the 2009-2012 four-year average, the period preceding to legalization. Youth arrests for marijuana-related offences have also increased since legalization [30]. However, in Colorado, the number of marijuana-related charges rose 2.77% between 2010 and 2012. In 2013 marijuana charges fell 69% when compared to its 2012 values. Further decreases were recorded in 2014; in that year, marijuana charges fell by 30%, from the previous year’s value. Similarly, marijuana court cases fell 69% between 2012 and 2013, while a 46% fall was observed between 2013 and 2014 [34]. Meanwhile, in Washington State, marijuana-related incidents 247 decreased by 63 percent between 2012 and 2015. Moreover, of the criminal activities relating to marijuana, possession or use was the most common, the frequency of these activities decreased by 65 percent from 2012 to 2015. Likewise, marijuana-related incidence on the highways and roads fell 75% between 2012 and 2015 [32]. Moreover, while states like Oregon, Washington state Colorado and Maryland, in the United States, have legalized marijuana for recreational use, there is evidence that the black-market for the product still exists and continues to pose a threat to the success of the marijuana market in the legal states. A 2017 report by the Associated Press highlighted the fact that marijuana grown legally in Oregon, for instance, is often “funnelled” out of the state by black market dealers. This, the report stated, comes at a significant cost to the state[35]. Furthermore, a 2017 article by the National Post noted that the legal market in Washington State was estimated to make up only 50 to 65 percent of the total marijuana market, while in Colorado that figure is believed to have surpassed 70 percent. It is therefore evident that the presence of a legal market does not extinguish the black market but in fact, competes with same[36]. The article continued by stating that the legal market in Washington State
“Marijuana edibles are food items made with marijuana or infused with marijuana oils. Edibles may be an alternative to smoking or vaporizing marijuana. Edibles come in many forms, e.g. brownies, cookies, candies, including animal or fruit-shaped gummies, suckers and chocolates, and as beverages.” [41] 246
247“As
defined by the FBI, an “incident” occurs when any law enforcement officer investigates a scene or situation, whether that investigation results in an arrest or not. Incidents involving multiple illicit drugs or other criminal activities are counted only once and are included in whichever category is listed first by the local law enforcement agency. The order used by those agencies is not hierarchical”[32].
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