Colorado highway fatalities near all-time low according to Washington Post study

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ErgoSum88/Commons.


There have been fewer deaths this year on Colorado roadways than years past. Colorado also began legal sales of recreational cannabis this past January. Coincidence? Not likely. In fact, we’re not saying that pot had anything to do with lowering the fatalities, mind you.
We’re just pointing out that the blood-bathed roads and warzone-level death totals the prohibitionists warned people about (and continue to try and scare people with) just aren’t coming true.


According to data pulled by the Washington Post, Colorado is on track to have fewer fatalities this year than last, which also means it would be fewer than the 13-year average.
Also, one of prohibitionist’s favorite stats to pull out about cannabis and driver fatalities actually doesn’t prove anything. Stoned-driving stats are usually based on drug tests after the incident that only test for THC metabolites — metabolites that stick around in your fatty cells for up to a month after use. Therefore, data showing “stoned” drivers actually don’t prove impairment at all. Project SAM loves to bring out those stats, though, pointing out that stoned driving in Washington state increased by 33 percent since voters legalized limited amounts there.
We’re not denying that relaxed cannabis laws mean more people are trying herb and using it, either. But increased use doesn’t mean increased traffic deaths or even an increase in stoned driving in general. As Washington Post blogger Radley Balko points out in an editorial this week:
“You’d also expect to find that a higher percentage of churchgoers, good Samaritans and soup kitchen volunteers would have pot in their system. You’d expect a similar result among any large sampling of people. This doesn’t necessarily mean that marijuana caused or was even a contributing factor to accidents, traffic violations or fatalities.”

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