Medbox Comments on New Research that Marijuana Likely Improves Public Health & Safety

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Medbox, Inc. (OTC Markets: MDBX) (www.medboxinc.com), a leader in providing consulting services and patented systems to the medical and retail industries, issued a commentary on recently published findings about the societal impact of the legalization of medical marijuana.

The research report, written by D. Mark Anderson of Montana State University and Daniel I. Rees from the University of Colorado, Denver, examined the effects of medical marijuana legalization in California, which was enacted in 1997. With over 15 years of evidence to study, the researchers concluded that marijuana was "likely to improve public health." They found that the partial legalization of marijuana had not led to increased lawlessness, a surge in drug and alcohol use, or increased carnage on the roads – as predicted by some.

In fact, the researchers found the opposite. People under the influence of marijuana drive better than those who have been drinking alcohol and are far less volatile in their social interactions. Moreover, the study shows that alcohol's health consequences are much worse.

The report, published in Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, reached its conclusions on what to expect when marijuana is legalized for recreational purposes.  

The study found that legalizing marijuana for medical use is associated with a drop in beer sales and a decrease in heavy drinking. These results, Anderson and Rees say, "Suggest that, as marijuana becomes more available, young adults in Colorado and Washington will respond by drinking less, not more."

That conclusion is consistent with earlier research, which found that enacting medical marijuana laws is associated with a 13 percent drop in traffic fatalities.

In an article in Forbes titled "Economists Predict Marijuana Legalization Will Produce Public-Health Benefits," Jacob Sullum reports that the study finds that the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington will lead to decreased alcohol consumption. "As a consequence, these states will experience a reduction in the social harms resulting from alcohol use."

With all of the evidence in front of them, the study authors predict, "the public-health benefits of legalization to be positive."

Management of Medbox comments: "As a leading proponent of the safe and proper use of legalized marijuana, we have always taken the position that this herb can be used responsibly, under the umbrella of intelligent, compassionate and evidence-based regulations," said Dr. Bruce Bedrick, CEO of Medbox, Inc. "We are pleased that this study validates the widely accepted position that legal marijuana does not create a degradation of public health," he added. "Furthermore, the study goes a step further by concluding that marijuana can actually contribute to an increase in public health."

To read the research report, titled, "The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely is the Worst-Case Scenario?" visit: http://dmarkanderson.com/Point_Counterpoint_07_31_13_v5.pdf

To read the research report titled, "Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption," visit: http://pages.uoregon.edu/bchansen/MML_Alcohol_Consumption.pdf

To read the article in Forbes, titled, "Economists Predict Marijuana Legalization Will Produce Public-Health Benefits," visit; http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2013/11/01/economists-predict-marijuana-legalization-will-produce-public-health-benefits/

To read the article on AllGov.com, titled, "Dire Warnings about Medical Marijuana in California Turned out to be Wrong," visit: http://www.allgov.com/usa/ca/news/top-stories/dire-warnings-about-medical-marijuana-in-california-turned-out-to-be-wrong-131031?news=851535

About Medbox, Inc: 

Medbox is a leader in the development, sales and service of automated, biometrically controlled dispensing and storage systems for medicine and merchandise. Medbox has offices throughout the world, including New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Tokyo, London and Toronto, and has their corporate headquarters in Los Angeles.

Medbox provides their patented systems, software and consulting services to pharmacies, dispensaries, urgent care centers, drug rehab clinics, hospitals, prison systems, hospice facilities, and medical groups worldwide. In addition, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Vaporfection International, Inc. (www.vaporfection.com), the company offers an industry award winning medical vaporizer product.

Medbox, Inc. is a publicly traded company, and is quoted on the OTC Markets, ticker symbol MDBX.

For more information on Medbox, please contact the Medbox Investor Relations Department at (800) 762-1452 or go online to www.medboxinc.com.

SOURCE Medbox, Inc.