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Smoke and Fears: The Effects of Marijuana Prohibition on Crime

Author

Listed:
  • Scott Callahan
  • David M. Bruner
  • Chris Giguere

Abstract

U.S. drug policy presumes prohibition reduces crime. Recently states have enacted medical marijuana laws creating a natural experiment to test this hypothesis but is impeded by severe measurement error with available data. We develop a novel imputation procedure to reduce measurement error bias and estimate significantreductionsin violent and property crime rates, with heterogeneous effects across and within states and types of crime, contradicting drug prohibitionpolicy. Wedemonstrateuncorrected measurementerrororassuminghomogeneouspolicy effects leads to underestimation of crime reduction from ending marijuana prohibition. Key Words: Prohibition, Medical Marijuana Laws, Uniform Crime Report, Multiple Imputation

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Callahan & David M. Bruner & Chris Giguere, 2021. "Smoke and Fears: The Effects of Marijuana Prohibition on Crime," Working Papers 21-12, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:apl:wpaper:21-12
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    File URL: http://econ.appstate.edu/RePEc/pdf/wp2112.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    prohibition; medical marijuana laws; uniform crime report; multiple imputation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access

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