title: US Traffic Fatalities, 1985-2014, and Their Relationship to Medical Marijuana Laws.
abstract: To determine the association of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) with traffic fatality rates.
  
  
  
  Using data from the 1985-2014 Fatality Analysis Reporting System, we examined the association between MMLs and traffic fatalities in multilevel regression models while controlling for contemporaneous secular trends. We examined this association separately for each state enacting MMLs. We also evaluated the association between marijuana dispensaries and traffic fatalities.
  
  
  
  On average, MML states had lower traffic fatality rates than non-MML states. Medical marijuana laws were associated with immediate reductions in traffic fatalities in those aged 15 to 24 and 25 to 44 years, and with additional yearly gradual reductions in those aged 25 to 44 years. However, state-specific results showed that only 7 states experienced post-MML reductions. Dispensaries were also associated with traffic fatality reductions in those aged 25 to 44 years.
  
  
  
  Both MMLs and dispensaries were associated with reductions in traffic fatalities, especially among those aged 25 to 44 years. State-specific analysis showed heterogeneity of the MML-traffic fatalities association, suggesting moderation by other local factors. These findings could influence policy decisions on the enactment or repealing of MMLs and how they are implemented.
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santaella-Tenorio
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Melanie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: June H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerdá
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Keyes
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Deborah S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hasin
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: Julian Santaella-Tenorio, June H. Kim, Katherine M. Keyes, Deborah S. Hasin, and Silvia S. Martins are with Columbia University, Epidemiology Department, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY. Christine M. Mauro and Melanie M. Wall are with Columbia University, Biostatistics Department, Mailman School of Public Health. Magdalena Cerdá is with University of California at Davis, Davis, CA. Sandro Galea is with Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Silvia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064086:Medical Marijuana; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D064086:Medical Marijuana