Economic and Social Costs of Legalized Marijuana

Economic and Social Costs of Legalized Marijuana

In November of 2018, the Centennial Institute at the Colorado Christian University commissioned a study to understand the impacts of marijuana legalization in Colorado.

More specifically, the study aimed to understand the price that is being paid by Coloradans in order to mitigate the consequences of commercial marijuana. Some of the researcher’s findings include:

• “For every dollar gained in tax revenue, Coloradans spent approximately $4.50 to mitigate the effects of legalization.”

• “Costs related to the healthcare system and from high school drop-outs are the largest cost contributors.”

• “Yearly cost-estimates for marijuana users: $2,200 for heavy users, $1,250 for moderate users, $650 for light users.”

• “The estimated costs of DUIs for people who tested positive for marijuana only in 2016 approaches $25 million.”

• “In 2016, the marijuana industry was responsible for approximately 393,053 pounds of CO2 emissions.”

Read full report here: https://rmhidta.org/files/D2DF/FINAL-Volume6.pdf