The Cannabis Effect on Crime: Time-Series Analysis of Crime in Colorado and Washington State

• NCJ Number: 253971
• Journal: Justice Quarterly Volume: Online First Dated: October 2019
• Author(s): Rubin Lu; Dale Willits; Mary K. Stohr; David Makin; John Snyder; Nicholas Lovrich; Mikala Meize; Duane Stanton; Guangzhen Wu; Craig Hemmens
• Date Published: September 2019
• Length: 31 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2016-R2-CX-0058
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Effects of Marijuana Legalization on Law Enforcement and Crime

Annotation

This article reports on a study that used a quasi-experimental, multi-group interrupted time-series design to determine whether, and how, UCR crime rates in Colorado and Washington, the first two states to legalize marijuana, were influenced by it.

Abstract

Previous studies based on relatively weak analytical designs lacking contextualization and appropriate comparisons have reported that the legalization of marijuana has either increased or decreased crime. The current study recognizes the importance for public policymaking of more robust research designs in this area during a period of continuing reform of state marijuana laws. Study results suggest that marijuana legalization and sales have had minimal to no effect on major crimes in Colorado or Washington. There were no statistically significant long-term effects of recreational cannabis laws or the initiation of retail sales on violent or property crime rates in these states. (Publisher abstract modified)