How Legal Pot Benefits Society

Although more time and research is needed, legalized marijuana seems to be having some undeniably positive effects on our entire society.

When contemplating the evolving consequences of marijuana legalization, it's helpful to think about tradeoffs. Now that this "social experiment" is almost two years old, we're starting to see signs that the influx of legal pot in Colorado and elsewhere may actually be helping remedy some far more serious societal problems than weed could ever cause.

One indication of this emerged last month, when scholars at the National Bureau of Economic Research outlined a study showing that states where medical marijuana has been legalized have seen their citizens' opioid use drop by almost 25 percent.

A primary selling point of medical marijuana is its ability to act as a substitute for narcotic painkillers and muscle relaxers. Our nation's addiction to these pharmaceuticals is well documented and has contributed mightily to...

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