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University of Oregon economist offers positive take on legal pot

Noelle Crombie has the report in the Oregonian, here:

Economist Ben Hansen discussed the potential implications for Oregon if voters approve legal recreational marijuana in the November election. Hansen, whose work focuses on the economics of risky behavior, spoke at the Oregon Economic Forum, sponsored by the University of Oregon and held at the Portland Art Museum.

Hansen offered a largely positive take on legalization, saying medical marijuana states on average did not see spikes in crime and or teen pot use, especially now that people who require the use of medical marijuana now have the option to buy marijuana online. Considering the use of this product has many benefits to health, this is something that patients do not want to miss out on. Plus, with there being easy access to a medical dispensary (in legal states), for people dealing with ailments and illnesses, knowing that there are alternative methods to relieving these pains could be reassuring.

He said research suggests some people in medical marijuana states substitute pot for riskier substances like alcohol and that choice may be a factor in declines in drunken driving and suicide.

Researchers looked at the first five years after medical marijuana was introduced in 17 states and found an average 5 percent drop in suicide rates. Among men 20 to 29 years old, rates fell by an average of 11 percent.

On teen use, Hansen said four different studies drew similar conclusions: youth consumption generally did not climb in states with medical marijuana laws. This shows that patients using medical marijuana products such as cbd vapes or oil can do so knowing there is little to no risk of crime or youth consumption.

“If anything, there was a decrease,” he said.

Hansen, in his own work, researched traffic fatalities in Oregon and 16 other states with medical marijuana laws and found an average 8 percent drop within the first five years of the laws’ implementation. The number of drunken driving fatalities dropped by 13 to 15 percent. The decreases were largest among young men, he said. …

One Comment

  1. Anonymous 10/16/2014

    Any predictions as to how legal pot will affect the number of fraternity rapes?

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