Consequences of Marijuana Legalization

Source: Colorado Springs Gazette Opinion, "Five years later, Colorado sees toll of pot legalization", The Oklahoman, 14 November 2017.

• "Five years of retail pot coincide with five years of a homelessness growth rate that ranks among the highest rates in the country. Directors of homeless shelters, and people who live on the streets, tell us homeless substance abusers migrate here for easy access to pot."
• "... a doubling in the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes who tested positive for marijuana, based on research by the pro-legalization Denver Post."
• " "An investigation by Education News Colorado, Solutions and the I-News Network shows drug violations reported by Colorado's K-12 schools have increased 45 percent in the past four years, even as the combined number of all other violations has fallen," explains an expose on escalating pot use in schools by Rocky Mountain PBS in late 2016. The investigation found an increase in high school drug violations of 71 percent since legalization. School suspensions for drugs increased 45 percent."
• "The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found Colorado ranks first in the country for marijuana use among teens, scoring well above the national average."