Tax revenues are surging and crime is plummeting less than three years after Washington state voted to legalize recreational pot, according to a new report by the Drug Policy Alliance.
A majority of voters continue to favor the initiative, known as I-502, according to the report. Some feared that legal pot would trigger a deluge of public safety woes, but those worries are thus far unfounded. In fact, these six figures—plucked from the report—offer a compelling snapshot of how well legal weed is working in Washington state.
$83 Million In Tax Revenues
Retail pot sales have already generated $83 million in new tax revenues for Washington state. That figure does not include additional money collected from industry fees and licensing.
98 Percent Drop In Pot-Related Offenses
Court filings against adults for low-level marijuana offenses fell from 6,879 in 2011 to just 121 in 2013. The 98 percent decrease lifts a heavy burden off the state’s criminal justice system.
$20 Million A Year Freed Up
Washington state spent an estimated $200 million enforcing marijuana crimes between 2000 and 2010, or about $20 million a year. That money can now go toward other public services.
56 Percent Approval Rating
A 2015 poll found that 56 percent of voters still approve of Washington’s marijuana law, while only 37 percent oppose it.
A One-Tenth Drop In Violent Crime
Violent crime fell 10 percent, statewide, between 2011 and 2014. The murder rate has dropped 13 percent during that time. Burglaries decreased six percent.
Zero Increase In Traffic Fatalities
Despite fears that legal weed would cause a surge fatal traffic accidents, the number of deadly crashes remains the same.
Read More:
From Oregon to DC: The 2015 Guide To Smoking Marijuana Legally In The US (Vocativ)
This State Has More Marijuana Shops Than McDonald’s or Starbucks (And It Ain’t Colorado or Washington) (Vocativ)
Hash Oil’s Trail Of Seared Skin And Annihilated Homes (Vocativ)