Report Reveals Great Outcome from WA Marijuana Legalization

The first Washington state recreational marijuana dispensary opened its doors one year ago, allowing adults 21 years of age or older to purchase marijuana for recreational use. And a new report reveals a very positive outcome — which resembles the superb reports that Colorado received — from marijuana legalization.

According to a new report by the Drug Policy Alliance, since marijuana legalization in Washington, the state has generated over $80 million in tax revenues, saved millions of dollars by no longer arresting and prosecuting low-level marijuana offenses, seen a decline in violent crime rates, seen youth marijuana use rates and traffic fatality rates remain the same, and voters continue to support recreational marijuana legalization.

“Marijuana prohibition has been a costly failure—to individuals, communities, and the entire country,” said the Director of Marijuana Law and Policy at the Drug Policy Alliance. “Washington should be praised for developing a smarter, more responsible approach to marijuana.”

Voters in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada and Ohio will likely be able to vote on similar adult-use marijuana legalization initiatives on their 2015 or 2016 ballots.