ABSTRACT
As of 2019, 11 US states (and Washington, D.C.) had legalized recreational marijuana and 33 states had legalized medicinal marijuana. In 2012, Colorado and Washington State became the first states in the US to legalize recreational marijuana via ballot measures – 54 percent of voters in Colorado and 56 percent of voters in Washington State approved the measures. Sales of recreational marijuana commenced on January 1, 2014 in Colorado and on July 8, 2014 in Washington State. In this chapter, we trace the path to legalization in Washington State, and discuss policy heterogeneity with respect to retail sales in the state. We also examine several “outcomes” of legalization, with a particular focus on trends in youth use of the substance, and the impact of legalization on traffic fatalities in the state. While there have been increases in adult use of marijuana since legalization, increases in youth use have not manifested. And while there have been modest increases in “marijuana-related traffic fatalities” a greater problem is polydrug use. We conclude by addressing some of the positive outcomes associated with legalization, including substantial reductions in the number of marijuana-related offenses in the state, and significant gains in tax revenues and fees under legalization.
