Posted on 09/15/2019 11:51:37 AM PDT by NobleFree
New research shows crime rates dropped substantially in areas with marijuana dispensaries, running counter to fears that pot shops drum up crime.
The study, published this month in the journal of Regional Science and Urban Economics, analyzed crime data from Denver between January 2013 and December 2016. Colorado, which legalized medical marijuana nearly two decades ago, kicked off sales of recreational pot in 2014.
”The results imply that an additional dispensary in a neighborhood leads to a reduction of 17 crimes per month per 10,000 residents, which corresponds to roughly a 19 percent decline relative to the average crime rate over the sample period,” the study states.
While those findings are highly localized, Illinois State University criminology professor Ralph Weisheit said the results could be “magnified in Illinois.” That’s because the state’s 610-page pot law prioritizes criminal justice and social equity and encourages the hiring of people from “economically-impoverished neighborhoods,” Weisheit said.
“More than any other state, the law is loaded with sections that encourage economic development and employment in areas that have high levels of poverty and a high level of previous marijuana arrests,” he added.
In Denver, researchers found the sharpest decrease in nonviolent crimes, like criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, simple assault and public-order crimes. The study also found a reduction in violent crime that was driven by a drop in aggravated assault, though those findings weren’t statistically significant.
Crime dropping locally appears to be consistent with an increased police or private security presence in or around pot shops. According to David Mok-Lamme, one of the study’s co-authors, private guards tasked with protecting dispensaries’ cash and product might have a “positive impact on crime rates” — but there’s not enough available data to know for sure.
Since the research shows that crime actually decreases “in a meaningful way,” Mok-Lamme said he hopes the study “causes people to rethink those thoughts they may have about where dispensaries choose to open.”
Westchester police chief Steven Stelter, president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said he’s concerned about an overall rise in crime after recreational pot is legalized but doesn’t know whether crime rates will be affected specifically around dispensaries.
“It depends where they put these dispensaries” and whether they attract visitors from elsewhere, Stelter said.
His main concerns include black market cannabis flooding into Illinois as well as increases in traffic crashes and marijuana use among children.
“We’re just gonna have to sit around and wait — and we’ll be able to say I told you so in a few years,” he said.
In Illinois, a growing number of municipalities are moving to ban sales of recreational pot. Naperville’s City Council voted earlier this month to do just that. Weisheit said he isn’t surprised.
“That’s just being cautious,” he said. “But I’m guessing that the mindset will gradually change over time. First of all, as money rolls in. And secondly, as they see that it’s not turned out to be the series of terrible events that they thought might happen with legalization.”
Still, another study, conducted between 2012 and 2015 and published earlier this year in the Justice Quarterly journal, found that crime rates around Denver pot shops initially increased when recreational marijuana was legalized, but it then declined. And the correlation between crime and the shops’ presence weakened significantly over time.
Lorine Hughes, a University of Colorado Denver professor who co-authored the study, said the slightly conflicting results of the studies were likely attributable to their differing methodologies. While Mok-Lamme’s study analyzed individual census tracts, Hughes said her research focused on smaller areas. Her study also looked at a shorter period of time after recreational pot was legalized. She said because crime was very low to begin with in some areas she analyzed, it’s difficult to jump to too many conclusions.
She also said her results likely won’t translate to other cities: “You can’t say because this is what we found in Denver, this is what you’re going to find in Chicago.”
Bruce Barcott, senior editor of the pot news website Leafly, which is owned by a major investor in the pot industry, said his review of other studies, by and large, shows that “crime rates in communities where cannabis stores have opened have been either unaffected or the crime rate generally decreases.”
He said marijuana legalization “frees up cops to do their job.”
“Any time that you can free up police resources from an activity that really is not a crime and is no longer a crime, that’s going to positively affect the police’s ability to do their job across all aspects,” he said.
“Any time that you can free up police resources from an activity that really is not a crime and is no longer a crime, that’s going to positively affect the police’s ability to do their job across all aspects,” he said.
and not busting people for drug possession is why the crime numbers have improved and for no other reason. the quote is an ignorant statement because those same resources “gained” will be used up dealing with the collateral damage of a bunch of stoners running around doing stupid and dangerous things.
Don’t trust studies much. Traffic accidents are way up though.
Wrong. "In Denver, researchers found the sharpest decrease in nonviolent crimes, like criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, simple assault and public-order crimes."
What's the evidence for accidents being up? (Is it a study? If so, why do you trust it?)
Was the study paid by the pot industry. And notice how narrow their “study” is. Crime decreased near pot shops - what about the rest of the city?
"Beware of averages. The average person has one breast and one testicle."
Dixie Lee Ray
Haven’t seen much crime around our shops, except the MJ shops themselves get robbed regularly and I think a few deaths over the last few years, generally murdered proprietors. Oh, this is in CA.
The dispensaries around here are getting more Neiman-Marcusy every day. And there are more than Starbucks.
I just love some Freepers, they are all Jeffersonian about keeping their AR-15 and not telling anyone what to do...unless it’s what substances they can put in their own bodies. Then they want to restrict your freedoms in a pious tone, while holding a cold IPA in their hand and smoking a Marlboro. Makes about as much sense as a pro-choice Liberal caring about inner school Black children. You are either for freedom or not. And yes I am all for ALL drugs being legal, it’s a health issue not a legal one. The Founding Fathers grew hemp and cannabis. No I don’t smoke it, but if someone else wants to, who am I to say. This is a loser issue for Republicans, drug criminalization, ...makes about much sense as alcohol, prohibition did in 1919
Drove past one on Venice yesterday that had 2 guards with bulletproof vests outside. Does that suggest a reduction in crime?
No, by the Federal Reserve: https://philadelphiafed.org/-/media/research-and-data/publications/working-papers/2017/wp17-19.pdf
And notice how narrow their “study” is. Crime decreased near pot shops - what about the rest of the city?
Some said pot shops would draw crime - this study addressed that idea.
LOL! That's how you tell the difference between principles and rationalizations.
It suggests deterrence of crime. Banks have guards - would you conclude that putting a bank in a neighborhood increases crime?
Don’t forget violence. Ask any cop how often they go to bar brawls/fights....It’s endless, every single night...Alcohol fueled murders, brawls, abuse etc. Ask any cop how many pot users are beating each other senseless. There is just no comparison. Zip~! Same with drunk driving. They kill/injure tens of thousands routinely unlike those who only use pot. Ask those with real experience like the street cops. There is just no comparison to the carnage caused by alcohol. Not even remotely close.
The good gun owner is an asset to society.
The good Stoner is a debit to society.
“In Denver, researchers found the sharpest decrease in nonviolent crimes, like criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, simple assault and public-order crimes.”
And the fact that Denver decriminalized public defacation.
The banks down the street from that same location don’t have guards. Make of that what you will, just posting observations.
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