supplement to - rmhidta.org march 2017 marijuana supplem… · supplement to: “the legalization...

March 2017

SUPPLEMENT to:

“The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact,

Volume 4, September 2016”

‐ 1 ‐

This brief report is a supplement to the 170 page publication, The Legalization of

Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact, Volume 4, released in September 2016. Rocky

Mountain HIDTA has prepared this supplement because of the volume of inquiries for

specific data.

Rocky Mountain HIDTA reports and publications can be found at www.rmhidta.org

and by clicking on “Reports.”

When reviewing this report, NOTE THAT:

The information and data comes from governmental sources.

Multi‐year comparisons are generally better indicators of trends. One‐year

fluctuations do not necessarily reflect a trend.

Percentage comparisons may be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Percentage changes added to graphs were calculated and added by Rocky

Mountain HIDTA.

Using terms such as “marijuana‐related” or “tested positive for marijuana” does

not necessarily mean that marijuana was the cause of the incident.

This report only contains partial information and does not include treatment,

crime, revenue, legislation, employment, school resource officers’ survey, driving

under the influence of drugs, among other categories. Further data is contained

in the September 2016, Volume 4 report in its entirety. Volume 5 is anticipated to

be compiled and released in September 2017.

‐ 2 ‐

Impaired Driving and Fatalities

Definitions by Rocky Mountain HIDTA

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID): DUID could include alcohol in

combination with drugs. This is an important measurement since the driver’s ability to

operate a vehicle was sufficiently impaired that it brought his or her driving to the

attention of law enforcement. Not only the erratic driving but the subsequent evidence

that the subject was under the influence of marijuana helps confirm the causation factor.

Marijuana‐Related: Also called “marijuana mentions,” is any time marijuana shows

up in the toxicology report. It could be marijuana only or marijuana with other drugs

and/or alcohol.

Marijuana Only: When toxicology results show marijuana and no other drugs or

alcohol.

Fatalities: Any death resulting from a traffic crash involving a motor vehicle.

Operators: Anyone in control of their own movements such as a driver, pedestrian

or bicyclist.

NOTE:

THE DATA FOR 2012 THROUGH 2015 WAS OBTAINED FROM THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION (CDOT). CDOT AND RMHIDTA CONTACTED CORONER OFFICES AND

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH FATALITIES TO OBTAIN TOXICOLOGY

REPORTS. THIS REPRESENTS 100 PERCENT REPORTING. PRIOR YEAR(S) MAY HAVE HAD LESS

THAN 100 PERCENT REPORTING TO THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,

AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS). ANALYSIS OF

DATA WAS CONDUCTED BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIDTA.

‐ 3 ‐

Data for Traffic Deaths

SOURCE: Colorado Department of Transportation


7871

94

115

6555

75

98

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2012* 2013 2014 2015

Number of Deaths

Colorado Traffic Deaths, where an Operator or

Driver Tested Positve for Marijuana

Operator Tested Positive Driver Tested Positive

*2012 is the first year with complete fatality data

0

20

40

60

80

100

Driver Tested Positive Operator Tested Positive

65

7876

93

Number of Deaths

Colorado Traffic Deaths, where an Operator or

Driver Tested Positve for Marijuana

2012* 2013‐2015 (Average Post Recreational Legalizaiton)


‐ 4 ‐



16.53%14.76%

19.26%21.02%

13.77%

11.43%

15.37%

17.92%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

2012* 2013 2014 2015

Percent of Deaths

Percent of All Traffic Deaths, when an Operator

or Driver Tested Positive for MarijuanaOperator Tested Postive Driver Tested Positve


0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

Drivers Tested Positive Operators Tested Positive

13.77%

16.53%14.91%

18.35%

Percent of Deaths

Percent of All Traffic Deaths, when an Operator

or Driver Tested Positive for Marijuana



‐ 5 ‐



7063

87

105

5547

68

88

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2012* 2013 2014 2015

Number of People

Individuals who Tested Positive for

Marijuana, Involved in Fatal Crashes

Operators Tested Positive Drivers Tested Positive


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Drivers Tested Positive Operators Tested Positive

55

7068

85

Number of People

Individuals who Tested Positive for

Marijuana, Involved in a Fatal Crash



‐ 6 ‐

SOURCE: Colorado State Patrol

SOURCE: Colorado State Patrol

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Marijuana Only Involving Marijuna All DUIDs

354

674

874

333

641

842

385

767

1004

Number of DUID

s

Colorado State Patrol

Number of DUIDs*2014 2015 2016

*Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

2014 2015 2016

12.2%13.4%

17.2%

Percent

Marijuana as a Percent of

All DUI/DUIDs*

28% Increase10% Increase

*Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/ Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

‐ 7 ‐

Youth Marijuana Use

Data for Youth Use

Youth 12 to 17 years Old

Top 10

Bottom 10

National Average = 7.20%

1.) Colorado 11.13% 41.) North Carolina 5.97%

2.) Vermont 10.86% 42.) Tennessee 5.90%

3.) Alaska 10.64% 43.) Virginia 5.44%

4.) Rhode Island 10.19% 44.) Oklahoma 5.42%

5.) Maine 10.01% 45.) Louisiana 5.33%

6.) New Hampshire 9.44% 46.) Iowa 5.30%

7.) Oregon 9.42% 47.) Mississippi 5.29%

8.) Massachusetts 9.22% 48.) Nebraska 5.26%

9.) Maryland 9.20% 49.) Alabama 5.16%

10.) Washington 9.17% 50.) Utah 4.54%

SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2014 and 2015

‐ 8 ‐



6.74 6.67 6.67 7.03 7.38 7.64 7.55 7.15 7.22 7.20

7.608.15

9.1310.17 9.91

10.72 10.4711.16

12.5611.13

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15

Average Percent

Annual Averages of Data Collection

Past Month Marijuana Use

Youth Ages 12 to 17 Years OldNational Average Colorado Average

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

2010‐2012

Pre‐Recreational Legalization

2013‐2015

Post‐Recreational Legalization

10.60%11.85%

Average Percent

Average Past Month Use of Marijuana

Youth Ages 12 to 17 Years Old

12% Increase

‐ 9 ‐

Healthy Kids Colorado Survey 2013 to 2015:

SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Monitoring Health Concerns Related

to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016, Healthy Kids Colorado Survey

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th

0.9

4.5

8.7

13.7

19.0

22.124.3

2.2

8.8 8.8

12.4

18.8

26.327.8

Percent of Prevalence

Grades

Current Marijuana Use for High School and

Middle School Students in Colorado

2013 2015

‐ 10 ‐

Adult Marijuana Use

Data for College Age (18 to 25 Years Old)

Top 10

Bottom 10


1.) Vermont 34.95% 41.) Kansas 15.73%

2.) Colorado 31.75% 42.) Wyoming 15.64%

3.) Maine 29.72% 43.) Texas 15.08%

4.) New Hampshire 29.12% 44.) Oklahoma 14.87%

5.) Rhode Island 28.89% 45.) North Dakota 14.77%

6.) Massachusetts 27.39% 46.) Alabama 14.33%

7.) Oregon 26.29% 47.) Mississippi 13.91%

8.) Alaska 25.02% 48.) Idaho 13.69%

9.) Connecticut 24.99% 49.) Iowa 12.67%

10.) Maryland 24.87% 50.) Utah 11.07%


‐ 11 ‐



16.42 16.34 16.45 17.42 18.39 18.78 18.89 18.91 19.32 19.7

21.43 22.21 23.44 24.2826.35 27.26 26.81

29.0531.24 31.75

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15

Average Percent



College Age 18 to 25 Years Old

National Average Colorado Average

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

2010‐2012


2013‐2015


27.04%

31.50%

Average Percent


College Age 18 to 25 Years Old

16% Increase

‐ 12 ‐

Data for Adults (26+ Years Old)

Top 10

Bottom 10


1.) Colorado 14.65% 41.) Tennessee 4.81%

2.) Alaska 12.83% 42.) Louisiana 4.71%

3.) Maine 11.84% 43.) Wyoming 4.71%

4.) Vermont 11.61% 44.) Nebraska 4.53%

5.) Oregon 10.99% 45.) Texas 4.32%

6.) Rhode Island 10.39% 46.) North Dakota 3.93%

7.) Washington 9.74% 47.) Alabama 3.86%

8.) New Hampshire 9.65% 48.) Mississippi 3.81%

9.) Montana 9.41% 49.) Utah 3.75%

10.) Massachusetts 9.21% 50.) Iowa 3.30%


‐ 13 ‐



4.1 4.02 4.06 4.42 4.68 4.8 5.05 5.456.11 6.55

5.325.88

6.88 7.31

8.868.19

7.63

10.13

12.45

14.65

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15

Average Percent



Adults Age 26+ Years Old

National Average Colorado Average

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

2010‐2012


2013‐2015


7.91%

13.55%

Average Percent


Adult Ages 26+ Years Old

71% Increase

‐ 14 ‐

Emergency Department and Hospital Marijuana-Related Admissions

Data for Emergency Department Visits

NOTE: “POSSIBLE MARIJUANA EXPOSURES, DIAGNOSES, OR BILLING CODES IN ANY OF

LISTED DIAGNOSIS CODES: THESE DATA WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE HD AND

ED VISITS WHERE MARIJUANA COULD BE A CAUSAL, CONTRIBUTING, OR COEXISTING

FACTOR NOTED BY THE PHYSICIAN DURING THE HD OR ED VISIT. FOR THESE DATA,

MARIJUANA USE IS NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE UNDERLYING REASON FOR THE

HD OR ED VISIT. SOMETIMES THESE DATA ARE REFERRED TO AS HD OR ED VISITS

WITH ANY MENTION OF MARIJUANA.ʺ ‐ COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

AND ENVIRONMENT, MONITORING HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO MARIJUANA IN

COLORADO: 2014

NOTE: DATA NOT AVAILABLE PRE‐2011.


to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016

618 701

873

1,039

754

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

2011 2012 2013 2014 Jan ‐ Sept 2015

Rates Per 100,000

Colorado Emergency Department Rates that

Could be Related to Marijuana*

*Rates of Emergency Department (ED) Visits with Possible Marijuana Exposures, Diagnoses, or

Billing Codes per 100,000 ED Visits by Year in Colorado

**Only 9 months of comparable 2015 data is available

Legalization

Jan ‐ Sept 2015**

‐ 15 ‐

SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

(2011‐2012)


(2013‐Sept 2015)


660

889

Rates Per 100,000

Colorado Emergency Department Rates that


35% Increase

*Rates of Emergency Department (ED) Visits with Possible Marijuana Exposures, Diagnoses, or

Billing Codes per 100,000 ED Visits by Year in Colorado


(2013‐Sept 2015**)

‐ 16 ‐

Data for Hospitalizations

NOTE: ʺPOSSIBLE MARIJUANA EXPOSURES, DIAGNOSES, OR BILLING CODES IN ANY OF

LISTED DIAGNOSIS CODES: THESE DATA WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE HD AND

ED VISITS WHERE MARIJUANA COULD BE A CAUSAL, CONTRIBUTING, OR COEXISTING

FACTOR NOTED BY THE PHYSICIAN DURING THE HD OR ED VISIT. FOR THESE DATA,

MARIJUANA USE IS NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE UNDERLYING REASON FOR THE

HD OR ED VISIT. SOMETIMES THESE DATA ARE REFERRED TO AS HD OR ED VISITS

‘WITH ANY MENTION OF MARIJUANA.’” ‐ COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

AND ENVIRONMENT, MONITORING HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO MARIJUANA IN

COLORADO: 2014


to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016

810 818 911 963

1,260 1,313 1,417

1,779

2,443

3,025

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Jan ‐

Sept

2015

Rates Per 100,000

Colorado Hospitalization Rates that


*Rates of Hospitalization (HD) Visits with Possible Marijuana Exposures, Diagnoses, or

Billing Codes per 100,000 HD Visits by Year in Colorado


Legalization

Jan ‐

Sept

2015**

‐ 17 ‐

SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

(2010‐2012)


(2013‐Sept 2015)


1,330

2,416

Rates Per 100,000

Colorado Hospitalization Rates that


82% Increase

*Rates of Hospitalization (HD) Visits with Possible Marijuana Exposures, Diagnoses, or

Billing Codes per 100,000 HD Visits by Year in Colorado


(2013‐Sept 2015**)

‐ 18 ‐

Marijuana-Related Exposure

Data

SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center

28 29 27 2534

2532 37

18

53

40

61

88

151 153142

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of Exposures

Number of Marijuana Only*

Exposures Reported

*Marijuana was the only substance referenced in the call to the poison control center

Legalization

‐ 19 ‐



0

50

100

150

(2009‐2012)


(2013‐2016)


43

134

Average Number of Exposures

Average Number of Marijuana Only*

Exposures Reported

*Marijuana was the only substance referenced in the call to the poison control center

210% Increase

5462

77 8368

76

45

7062

44

9586

110

127

223231

224

25 29 2431 35 30

21 26 26 27

45 3950

67

92

117101

0

50

100

150

200

250

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Number of Exposures

Exposures Involving* Marijuana

Total Marijuana Cases Youth (0‐18) Cases

Legalization

*Other substances may also be reported in the call

‐ 20 ‐

Diversion of Colorado Marijuana

Data for Parcels

NOTE: THESE FIGURES ONLY REFLECT PACKAGES SEIZED; THEY DO NOT INCLUDE PACKAGES

OF COLORADO MARIJUANA THAT WERE MAILED AND REACHED THE INTENDED

DESTINATION.

SOURCE: United States Postal Inspection Service, Prohibited Mailing of Narcotics

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

0 15 36

158207

320

581

854

Number of Parcels

Parcels Containing Marijuana Mailed from

Colorado to Another State

Legalization

‐ 21 ‐


0

100

200

300

400

500

(2009‐2012)


(2013‐2016)


52

491

Average Number of Parcels

Average Number of Parcels Containing

Marijuana Mailed from Colorado

to Another State

844% Increase

‐ 22 ‐



0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

057.20 68.20

262.00

493.05 469.91

1,246.00

1725.51

Number of Pounds

Pounds of Colorado Marijuana Seized by

the U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Legalization

0

200

400

600

800

1000

(2009‐2012)

Pre‐Recreational

Legalization

(2013‐2016)

Post‐Recreational

Legalization

97

984

Average Pounds

Average Pounds of Colorado Marijuana Seized

by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service

914% Increase

‐ 23 ‐

Prepared by:

Rocky Mountain HIDTA

Strategic Intelligence Unit

www.rmhidta.org

supplement to - rmhidta.org march 2017 marijuana supplem… · supplement to: “the legalization...

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