Marijuana Legalization Tied to Increased Alcohol Consumption

Marijuana

A recent study published in peer-reviewed journal Jama Health Forum found that marijuana legalization may contribute to increased alcohol use.

Research conducted from 2010 – 2019 examined how recreational marijuana laws affected alcohol use by 4.2 million adults in the U.S.

Overall, the study found “recreational cannabis laws were associated with a 0.9 percentage point increase in any alcohol use among the population.” Increased alcohol use was most pronounced among adults ages 18-24, who were 3.7% more likely to report alcohol use.

These findings are significant because many marijuana supporters claim that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol.

Even if that were true, this study indicates that legalizing marijuana may lead to increased alcohol use.

In other words, legalization does not encourage people to use marijuana instead of alcohol. If states legalize marijuana, people may simply use more marijuana and more alcohol, both.

It’s important to point out that increased marijuana use raises safety concerns of its own.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the CDC report that after alcohol, marijuana is the substance most often associated with impaired driving.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Washington doubled after the state legalized marijuana.

A 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open found that more than 1 in 8 teen drivers reported recently driving after using marijuana, and teens were more than twice as likely to drive after using marijuana than they were to drink and drive.

In Colorado traffic fatalities where the driver tested positive for marijuana have increased 138% since the state legalized marijuana in 2013.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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U.S. Treasury Announces Sanctions Against Mexican Drug Cartel

Drugs, ,

On Thursday the U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions against the La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel from Mexico for smuggling illicit drugs — including “rainbow fentanyl” — across the United States.

The DEA reports that fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.  Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. “Rainbow fentanyl” is brightly colored fentanyl pills and powder believed to appeal to children.

In a press release last week, Treasury Department leadership said, “Not only does this cartel traffic fentanyl, which claimed the lives of more than 71,000 Americans last year, it now markets ‘rainbow fentanyl’ as part of a deliberate effort to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults.”

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge recently warned parents about the increase in “rainbow fentanyl” pills that look like candy. Earlier this month the FBI arrested 45 individuals believed to be tied to trafficking of fentanyl, marijuana, and other drugs in Arkansas.

In 2021 the legislature passed Act 887 making it a felony to unlawfully manufacture, possess, or deliver fentanyl in Arkansas.

Nationwide, drug cartels are funding their criminal enterprises by growing and selling marijuana and other drugs despite many states legalizing marijuana.

Across the board, drugs are a very serious issue plaguing Arkansas, and our state needs to address it.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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