Generic disclaimer: This blog post is from the perspective of a state epidemiologist who has been tasked by their supervisor to write a position statement on the department’s stance on the ramifications of legalization. It is part of an assignment and not meant to be a reflection of the author’s beliefs or opinions. Carry on.
The legalization of marijuana may lead to an increase in respiratory disease (Mehra, Moore, Crothers, Tetrault, Fiellin, 2006), addictions (Hughes & Budney, 2006), cardiovascular disease (Jones, 2002), vehicle crashes (Drummer, Gerostamoulos, Batziris, Chu, Caplehorn, Robertson & Swann, 2003) and mental health issues (Hall, 2006). A conservative estimate of 8% of the population using marijuana means there were about 782,000 Texans in 2012 using the drug (Hall & Degenhardt, 2009). A study in Canada estimated the health cost of marijuana users at $20 per user (Thomas & Davis, 2009). This would put the cost of healthcare for marijuana users in Texas at approximately $15.6 million dollars a year. One would assume an increase in users if marijuana became legal, which would lead to an increase in health costs.
On the other hand, Texas spent an estimated $330 million to incarcerate people for marijuana related charges (Miron & Waldock, 2010). If legalized, this cost would more than offset the increase in health costs. With the proper design and implementation for a legalization program, the income from taxation could generate many more millions of dollars (Caulkins, Kilmer, MacCoun, Pacula & Reuter, 2011). This profit could be used for medical research, education, and outreach programs that would greatly benefit Texans.
After careful consideration, this department recommends the legalization of marijuana. The health implications are clear, but the economic benefit will help to deliver higher quality healthcare to all Texans.
References:
Mehra R, Moore BA, Crothers K, Tetrault J, Fiellin DA. The association between marijuana smoking and lung cancer: A systematic review. Arch Intern Med.2006;166(13):1359-1367. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.13.1359
Hughes, J., & Budney, A. (2006). The cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 19(3), 233-238. doi: 10.1097/01.yco.0000218592.00689.e5
Jones, R. T. (2002), Cardiovascular system effects of marijuana. Journal of Clinical Pharma, 42: 58S–63S. doi: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.2002.tb06004.x
Drummer, O., Gerostamoulos, J., Batziris, H., Chu, M., Caplehorn, J., Robertson, M., & Swann, P. (2003). The involvement of drugs in drivers of motor vehicles killed in australian road traffic crashes. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 36(2), 239-248. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(02)00153-7
Hall W (2006) The mental health risks of adolescent cannabis use. PLoS Med, 3(2), e39. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030039
Miron, J., & Waldock, K. (2010). The budgetary impact of ending drug prohibition. (pp. 5-6). Washington, D.C.: CATO INSTITUTE. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/DrugProhibitionWP.pdf
Thomas, G., & Davis, C. (2009). Cannabis, tobacco and alcohol use in canada: Comparing risks of harm and costs to society. Visions, 5(4), 11. Retrieved from http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/cannabis-vol5/cannabis-tobacco-and-alcohol-use-in-canada
Caulkins, J., Kilmer, B., MacCoun, R., Pacula, R., & Reuter, P. (2011). Design considerations for legalizing cannabis: lessons inspired by analysis of california’s proposition 19. Addiction, (107), 865-871. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03561.x
Hall, W., & Degenhardt, L. (2009). Adverse health effects of non-medical cannabis use. The Lancet,374(9698), 1383-1391. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61037-0
The legalization of marijuana may lead to an increase in respiratory disease (Mehra, Moore, Crothers, Tetrault, Fiellin, 2006), addictions (Hughes & Budney, 2006), cardiovascular disease (Jones, 2002), vehicle crashes (Drummer, Gerostamoulos, Batziris, Chu, Caplehorn, Robertson & Swann, 2003) and mental health issues (Hall, 2006). A conservative estimate of 8% of the population using marijuana means there were about 782,000 Texans in 2012 using the drug (Hall & Degenhardt, 2009). A study in Canada estimated the health cost of marijuana users at $20 per user (Thomas & Davis, 2009). This would put the cost of healthcare for marijuana users in Texas at approximately $15.6 million dollars a year. One would assume an increase in users if marijuana became legal, which would lead to an increase in health costs.
On the other hand, Texas spent an estimated $330 million to incarcerate people for marijuana related charges (Miron & Waldock, 2010). If legalized, this cost would more than offset the increase in health costs. With the proper design and implementation for a legalization program, the income from taxation could generate many more millions of dollars (Caulkins, Kilmer, MacCoun, Pacula & Reuter, 2011). This profit could be used for medical research, education, and outreach programs that would greatly benefit Texans.
After careful consideration, this department recommends the legalization of marijuana. The health implications are clear, but the economic benefit will help to deliver higher quality healthcare to all Texans.
References:
Mehra R, Moore BA, Crothers K, Tetrault J, Fiellin DA. The association between marijuana smoking and lung cancer: A systematic review. Arch Intern Med.2006;166(13):1359-1367. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.13.1359
Hughes, J., & Budney, A. (2006). The cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 19(3), 233-238. doi: 10.1097/01.yco.0000218592.00689.e5
Jones, R. T. (2002), Cardiovascular system effects of marijuana. Journal of Clinical Pharma, 42: 58S–63S. doi: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.2002.tb06004.x
Drummer, O., Gerostamoulos, J., Batziris, H., Chu, M., Caplehorn, J., Robertson, M., & Swann, P. (2003). The involvement of drugs in drivers of motor vehicles killed in australian road traffic crashes. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 36(2), 239-248. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(02)00153-7
Hall W (2006) The mental health risks of adolescent cannabis use. PLoS Med, 3(2), e39. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030039
Miron, J., & Waldock, K. (2010). The budgetary impact of ending drug prohibition. (pp. 5-6). Washington, D.C.: CATO INSTITUTE. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/DrugProhibitionWP.pdf
Thomas, G., & Davis, C. (2009). Cannabis, tobacco and alcohol use in canada: Comparing risks of harm and costs to society. Visions, 5(4), 11. Retrieved from http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/cannabis-vol5/cannabis-tobacco-and-alcohol-use-in-canada
Caulkins, J., Kilmer, B., MacCoun, R., Pacula, R., & Reuter, P. (2011). Design considerations for legalizing cannabis: lessons inspired by analysis of california’s proposition 19. Addiction, (107), 865-871. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03561.x
Hall, W., & Degenhardt, L. (2009). Adverse health effects of non-medical cannabis use. The Lancet,374(9698), 1383-1391. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61037-0
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