THE FACTS ABOUT PROP 207
The legalization of marijuana is a hot topic in Arizona and the rest of the country at the moment, with several states voting on ballot initiatives in less than two weeks. But recent claims by Ryan Randazzo and Farah Eltohamy, in a story published by the Arizona Republic, needs significant revision. Randazzo and Eltohamy discuss youth marijuana use and impaired driving – concluding that both measures have not witnessed disturbing trends. Unfortunately, a closer look at the data shows that is false.
In their story, the authors point to data from the 2017 Health Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) to contend that marijuana use in youth in Colorado has not increased. Thankfully, however, the most recent release of HKCS won’t give parents much reassurance.
The study found marijuana use increasing in 2019 compared to 2017 among all age groups and grades. In the under 15 group, significant — nearly 15% increases, were seen. Furthermore, there was a 10% spike in marijuana use among 11th and 12th graders since the implementation of legalization in 2013. The survey also reported that more than 1 in 5 users get their marijuana from adults — a sure sign legalization isn’t keeping kids from pot.
Other data confirm this trend. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUSH) found past-month marijuana use among 12-17-year-olds increased 4% in Colorado from 2016-2017 to 2017- 2018 (the last years with data available). And in non-legal states, these use rates are significantly lower than in the state of Colorado. Furthermore, researchers from New York and Columbia Universities analyzed NSDUH data and found that in states that have legalized marijuana, cases of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) – otherwise known as marijuana adduction—grew 25% following legalization among young people. Increases in marijuana use among young people is concerning to public health experts as an overwhelming amount of research has shown marijuana use prior to the age of 25 is associated with many harms to health and the potential development of serious mental illness. Additionally, the rate of young people consuming high potency marijuana has skyrocketed in recent years. The 2020 HKCS reveals a nearly five-fold increase in the use of high potency “dabs” and a doubling of marijuana vaping — again only since 2017. This is especially worrying because studies have found the daily use of high potency marijuana increases the risk of psychosis five-fold.
When it comes to the issue of marijuana impaired driving, first let’s revisit the 2020 HKCS. Buried in the summary was a startling statistic showing 1 in 3 Colorado youths admitting to driving stoned in the past month — up from 1 in 9 just two years ago. A 260% increase! Other data confirm this. Research shows that THC levels can at least double one’s chances of getting into a car crash. Notably, 13.5% of drivers involved in a fatal car crash in Colorado in 2018 tested positive for marijuana impairment, according to CDOT. Other reports found that number to be higher — more than 18%.
The Highway Loss Data Institute found that legalization in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington coincided with an increase in collision claims. In Colorado, traffic fatalities have risen over 31% since 2013. This rise has coincided with increases in traffic fatalities wherein drivers tested positive for active THC in the bloodstream.
1 IN 3 COLORADO YOUTHS ADMITTING TO DRIVING STONED IN THE PAST MONTH
Furthermore, a report from AAA found the number of Washington State drivers testing positive for marijuana after a fatal car crash doubled after legalization.
These issues are not merely claims by those who are opposed to marijuana commercialization, they are events that are actively happening as a result of commercialization and are a significant cause for concern among public health and safety advocates.
WASHINGTON STATE DRIVERS TESTING POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA AFTER A FATAL CAR CRASH DOUBLED AFTER LEGALIZATION.
The increases in youth use, problematic use, and deaths due to marijuana impaired driving are backed up by significant amounts of data and are not to be so casually tossed aside. If there is anything this campaign season is teaching us, it is that we need honest data to make decisions.
Dr. Kevin Sabet is a veteran drug policy advisor, having served in the Clinton, Bush, and Obama White House Administrations. He founded Smart Approaches to Marijuana in 2013, alongside former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Republican pundit David Frum. He has a doctorate in social policy from Oxford University and has several peer-reviewed, scientific papers on drug policy.