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Impact of Legalization of Recreational Marijuana on Drug Law Violations: Evidence from US Colleges and Universities

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Listed:
  • Dills, Angela
  • Raghav, Manu

Abstract

The use of various controlled and illegal substances, especially by young adults, has been a cause of much concern among policymakers, law enforcement officials, educators, and parents. State-level legalization of recreational marijuana in the United States raised concerns about potential adverse impacts on campus drug use and drug law violations. This paper combines data from three sources for 2001-02 to 2023-24, including college campus drug law violations that are collected under the Clery Act of 1990. We find that state legalization of recreational marijuana substantially reduced the arrests and disciplinary incidents for drug law violations.

Suggested Citation

  • Dills, Angela & Raghav, Manu, 2026. "Impact of Legalization of Recreational Marijuana on Drug Law Violations: Evidence from US Colleges and Universities," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1775, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1775
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chang, Tom Y. & Jacobson, Mireille, 2017. "Going to pot? The impact of dispensary closures on crime," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 120-136.
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    3. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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