A new study published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research and the U.S. National Library of Medicine has found no significant link between Connecticut’s legalization of recreational marijuana and motor vehicle accident (MVA) rates, either statewide or near dispensaries.
Researchers from the University of Alberta and Yale University School of Medicine analyzed crash data from Connecticut and Maryland, which served as a control state. The statewide analysis covered two 24-week periods before and after Connecticut’s January 10, 2023, legalization date. After adjusting for seasonal trends and other factors, the researchers found no statistically significant change in accident rates.
At the local level, the team studied accident rates within an 800-meter radius of 13 recreational dispensaries during the eight weeks before and after they opened. This analysis also found no significant effect, with accident rates remaining relatively stable.
The authors concluded that both statewide legalization and the opening of marijuana dispensaries in Connecticut were not associated with an increase in MVAs during the study period.
For more information on this study, click here.
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