Study: When Medical Pot is Introduced, Alcohol Consumption Drops
Medical marijuana is for sale legally at the 45th Parallel dispensary in Ontario, Ore.One of the more interesting journeys of 2011 (and we had a few) occurred last March, when we visited a spot called the 45th Parallel, right across the Idaho-Oregon border. That's where we found a medical marijuana dispensary, offering such varieties as chocolate chunk, blue dream and purple wreck.
What we discovered was an increasing number of Idaho clients who had recently bought property in Oregon, just so they could have legal access to medicinal pot for AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and major skeletal injuries.
Moscow Republican Rep. Tom Trail told us that he was carefully crafting something called the Idaho Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, which is expected to surface again when the Idaho Legislature convenes in a couple of weeks.
A new study, reported in today's Missoulian, indicates that states that have legalized medical marijuana have seen a decrease in traffic fatalities and beer sales, as pot became a substitute for alcohol. To date, 16 states have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana.
The report, authored by D. Mark Anderson of Montana State University and Daniel Reese of the University of Colorado, is under review by the Journal of Law and Economics.
- Article originally from Boise Weekly.
