REPORT AVAILABLE AT: www.rmhidta.rg (Click n the Reprts tab) PREPARED BY THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIDTA STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE UNIT SEPTEMBER 2018
Executive Summary Purpse f Reprt Update: RMHIDTA has published annual reprts every year since 2013 tracking the impact f legalizing recreatinal marijuana in Clrad. The purpse is t prvide data and infrmatin s that plicy makers and citizens can make infrmed decisins n the issue f marijuana legalizatin. This year (2018) RMHIDTA elected t prvide an update t the 2017 Vlume 5 reprt rather than anther detailed reprt. Sectin I: Traffic Fatalities & Impaired Driving Since recreatinal marijuana was legalized, marijuana related traffic deaths increased 151 percent while all Clrad traffic deaths increased 35 percent Since recreatinal marijuana was legalized, traffic deaths invlving drivers wh tested psitive fr marijuana mre than dubled frm 55 in 2013 t 138 peple killed in 2017. This equates t ne persn killed every 2 ½ days cmpared t ne persn killed every 6 ½ days. The percentage f all Clrad traffic deaths that were marijuana related increased frm 11.43 percent in 2013 t 21.3 percent in 2017. Sectin II: Marijuana Use Clrad past mnth marijuana use shws a 45 percent increase in cmparing the three-year average prir t recreatinal marijuana being legalized t the three years after legalizatin. Clrad past mnth marijuana use fr ages 12 and lder is ranked 3 rd in the natin and is 85 percent higher than the natinal average. Executive Summary 1
Sectin III: Public Health The yearly rate f emergency department visits related t marijuana increased 52 percent after the legalizatin f recreatinal marijuana. (2012 cmpared t 2016) The yearly rate f marijuana-related hspitalizatins increased 148 percent after the legalizatin f recreatinal marijuana. (2012 cmpared t 2016) Marijuana nly expsures mre than tripled in the five-year average (2013-2017) since Clrad legalized recreatinal marijuana cmpared t the five-year average (2008-2012) prir t legalizatin. Sectin IV: Black Market RMHIDTA Clrad Task Frces (10) cnducted 144 investigatins f black market marijuana in Clrad resulting in: 239 felny arrests 7.3 tns f marijuana seized 43,949 marijuana plants seized 24 different states the marijuana was destined The number f highway seizures f Clrad marijuana increased 39 percent frm an average f 242 seizures (2009-2012) t an average f 336 seizures (2013-2017) during the time recreatinal marijuana has been legal. Seizures f Clrad marijuana in the U.S. mail system has increased 1,042 percent frm an average f 52 parcels (2009-2012) t an average f 594 parcels (2013-2017) during the time recreatinal marijuana has been legal. Sectin V: Scietal Impact Marijuana tax revenue represent apprximately nine tenths f ne percent f Clrad s FY 2017 budget. Vilent crime increased 18.6 percent and prperty crime increased 8.3 percent in Clrad since 2013. 65 percent f lcal jurisdictins in Clrad have banned medical and recreatinal marijuana businesses. Executive Summary 2
Sectin IV: Marijuana Industry Accrding t the Marijuana Plicy Grup, Market Size and Demand fr Marijuana in Clrad 2017 Market Update: Frm 2014 thrugh 2017, average annual adult use flwer prices fell 62.0 percent, frm $14.05 t $5.34 per gram weighted average. Adult use cncentrate prices fell 47.9 percent, frm $41.43 t $21.57 per gram. The average THC cntent f all tested flwer in 2017 was 19.6 percent statewide cmpared t 17.4 percent in 2016, 16.6 percent in 2015 and 16.4 percent in 2014. The average ptency f cncentrated extract prducts increased steadily frm 56.6 percent THC cntent by weight in 2014 t 68.6 percent at the end f 2017. As f June 2017, there were 491 retail marijuana stres in the state f Clrad cmpared t 392 Starbucks and 208 McDnald s. Executive Summary 3