Smoke a Joint?

Could smoking a joint save a life?  A new study published by University of Colorado Denver professor of economics Daniel Rees and D. Mark Anderson, an assistant professor of economics at Montana State University seems to indicate it could.  According to the East Bay Express, the two men

…used government statistics on road fatalities and drug behavior to look at what happened in thirteen medical marijuana states between 1990 and 2009.

They found the safety effect of legalization is comparable to gains from increasing the legal drinking age to 21, or mandating seat belts for those ages 14 to 18. The safety effect is even greater in the groups most at-risk for road fatalities: young, male, intoxicated, weekend night drivers.

“Legalization is associated with a 19-percent decrease in the fatality rate of 20-29 year-olds,” the study states.

Caution: the study has not been peer reviewed.  Nonetheless, the article by David Downs of the East Bay Express about the study is thorough and well worth the time to read. The numbers are compelling.