How America Drinks™

Marijuana Laws & Alcohol Consumption: Is There a Link?

As part of our How America Drinks™ series, the BACtrack team analyzed over 250,000 anonymous BAC (blood alcohol content) results to determine if decriminalizing marijuana correlates with a state's average % BAC.

THE ANSWER:

Yes - in states where marijuana is decriminalized, people drink LESS.

• In other words, these states have a significantly LOWER average % BAC.

• In four of the five states with the highest average % BAC levels, marijuana is criminalized.

• In the five states with the lowest average % BAC levels, marijuana is decriminalized.

After comparing each state's average % BAC for 2023 with its marijuana decriminalization status, we found a statistically significant negative correlation between decriminalization and a lower % BAC average.

When marijuana is decriminalized, that generally means first-time possession offenses do not result in jail time, a criminal record, or arrest.

ANOTHER FINDING:

In states where recreational marijuana is legal, people drink LESS.

In other words, states where BOTH recreational and medical marijuana are legal have a significantly LOWER average % BAC than states with more restrictions on marijuana/THC consumption.
The states with the five highest average % BAC levels also fall into the "more restricted" categories for marijuana legalization.
Four of the five states with the lowest average % BAC levels also fall into the "least restricted" category for marijuana legalization.

Methodology

Data for this analysis was collected anonymously from users of the BACtrack app, which syncs with smartphone-compatible BACtrack breathalyzers. Data used in this report was collected from U.S. users who opted into sharing their data by activating the BACtrack App data storage, having location services turned on, and allowing the BACtrack app to access their smartphone’s Bluetooth. This data does not represent data from all users.
Over 250,000 unique BAC tests were reviewed for this report.
Data represents positive BAC reading collected anonymously from January 1-December 31, 2023.
To identify which states have implemented policies to decriminalize marijuana, we referred to sources including NORML and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). For this study, we considered a state "decriminalized" if they have fully or partially enacted these policies. Decriminalization status is an independent variable from legality level, and was treated as such during analysis. Legality level and decriminalization status assigned as of April 2024.
To identify each state's level of marijuana legality in 2023, we referred to sources including Rolling Stone's Cannabis Legalization Map, the NCSL, NBC, and more.
For our analysis, we examined the relationship between marijuana legality and average % BAC in each state. We assigned each state a rank, based on which types of marijuana were legal (or not) in 2023: Rank 0 - No program legalizing THC. Rank 1 - Only CBD or low-THC* medical marijuana is legal. Rank 2 - Legal for medical use only. Rank 3 - Legal for medical and recreational use.
*Low-THC generally means a product's content is at 1% THC or less by weight.
Analysis methods to determine statistical significance of average % BAC levels between states in different marijuana categories included, but were not limited to, correlation coefficients, linear models, and statistical models.