Case Explained: Marijuana Legalization Associated With Lower Crime Rates – Legal Perspective

Fairfield, CT: The enactment of laws legalizing cannabis for either medical or adult-use purposes is associated with declining crime rates over time, according to findings published in the scientific journal Economic Modeling. 

Researchers affiliated with the Jack Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and Barnard College in New York evaluated the relationship between statewide cannabis policies and crime rates nationwide. 

Consistent with prior studies, they reported that liberalized marijuana laws were associated with reductions in overall criminal activity. Specifically, the adoption of medical cannabis legalization is associated with reduced property crime, whereas adult-use legalization is associated with decreases in violent crime. These trends become more pronounced over time.

“The overarching result from our [study] is that medical legalization reduces property crime, while recreational legalization reduces violent crime. Such effects support the … hypothesis that legalization drives out crime,” the study’s authors concluded. “The diverse and potentially time-varying impacts of medical and recreational legalization raise a cautionary note for policymakers: those considering legalization should wait a few years before pronouncing on the cost-benefit impact, focus on the specific type of legalization, and study closely the outcomes from similar states.”

Previous studies have similarly determined that cannabis legalization is associated with improvements in police clearance rates, particularly for those cases involving violent offenses.

Full text of the study, “How does marijuana legislation affect crime? Medical and recreational laws across 50 states,” appears in Economic Modeling. Additional information is available from NORML in the Fact Sheet, ‘Marijuana Regulation and Crime Rates.’