A new Toronto, Canada study found that neither legalization of cannabis nor the number of cannabis retail stores was associated with an increase in traffic crashes. This dovetails with other recent studies which came to similar conclusions about legalization across Canada, as well many US studies.
In other words, the predicted "parade of horribles" never happened. Not with liberalization, not with legalization, and not even with commercialization of cannabis. Fearmongers, prepare to eat crow.
Note that the legal age limit for cannabis is 18 in Alberta and 19 in all other provinces except Quebec, who originally set it at 18 but unfortunately raised it to 21 in 2020. (For comparison, the legal drinking age is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, and 19 elsewhere.) Thus, a lower age limit in Canada does not seem to increase traffic crash risk either, relative to the USA where it is 21 in all legalization states. Not even in Alberta specifically either, whether for all ages OR for Albertan youth specifically.
Oh, and cannabis legalization does NOT seem to be crazy-making in Canada either. Again, nt even in the province with the most liberal cannabis policies, Alberta. Nor does legalization seem to have increased problematic cannabis use among youth or young adults in either Canada or the USA. Thus, another tired, old myth bites the dust.
Cannabis should be legalized by more states in the United States. What matters is responsibility. Legalizing Cannabis does not mean that people should be allowed to be irresponsible in regards to Cannabis. Legalizing Cannabis should be seen as an incentive to encourage people to act responsibly regarding Cannabis. Whether or not Cannabis is legal or not, responsibility is what matters. If the culture in the United States can be changed to be more responsible, then there should no qualms over why Cannabis should not be legalized because Cannabis should be legalized.
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