Skip to main content
Erschienen in: The Journal of Primary Prevention 3/2017

27.04.2017 | Original Paper

From Medical to Recreational Marijuana Sales: Marijuana Outlets and Crime in an Era of Changing Marijuana Legislation

verfasst von: Bridget Freisthler, Andrew Gaidus, Christina Tam, William R. Ponicki, Paul J. Gruenewald

Erschienen in: Journal of Prevention | Ausgabe 3/2017

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

A movement from medical to recreational marijuana use allows for a larger base of potential users who have easier access to marijuana, because they do not have to visit a physician before using marijuana. This study examines whether changes in the density of marijuana outlets were related to violent, property, and marijuana-specific crimes in Denver, CO during a time in which marijuana outlets began selling marijuana for recreational, and not just medical, use. We collected data on locations of crimes, marijuana outlets and covariates for 481 Census block groups over 34 months (N = 16,354 space–time units). A Bayesian Poisson space–time model assessed statistical relationships between independent measures and crime counts within “local” Census block groups. We examined spatial “lag” effects to assess whether crimes in Census block groups adjacent to locations of outlets were also affected. Independent of the effects of covariates, densities of marijuana outlets were unrelated to property and violent crimes in local areas. However, the density of marijuana outlets in spatially adjacent areas was positively related to property crime in spatially adjacent areas over time. Further, the density of marijuana outlets in local and spatially adjacent blocks groups was related to higher rates of marijuana-specific crime. This study suggests that the effects of the availability of marijuana outlets on crime do not necessarily occur within the specific areas within which these outlets are located, but may occur in adjacent areas. Thus studies assessing the effects of these outlets in local areas alone may risk underestimating their true effects.
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Banerjee, A., LaScala, E., Gruenewald, P. J., Freisthler, B., Treno, A., & Remer, L. G. (2008). Social disorganization, alcohol and other drug markets and violence: A space-time model of community structure. In Y. F. Thomas, D. Richardson, & I. Cheung (Eds.), Geography and drug addiction (pp. 117–130). New York, NY: Springer.CrossRef Banerjee, A., LaScala, E., Gruenewald, P. J., Freisthler, B., Treno, A., & Remer, L. G. (2008). Social disorganization, alcohol and other drug markets and violence: A space-time model of community structure. In Y. F. Thomas, D. Richardson, & I. Cheung (Eds.), Geography and drug addiction (pp. 117–130). New York, NY: Springer.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Besag, J., York, J., & Mollie, A. (1991). Bayesian image restoration, with two applications in spatial statistics. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 43, 1–59. doi:10.1007/BF00116466.CrossRef Besag, J., York, J., & Mollie, A. (1991). Bayesian image restoration, with two applications in spatial statistics. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 43, 1–59. doi:10.​1007/​BF00116466.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat California Police Chief’s Association Task Force on Marijuana Dispensaries. (2009). White Paper on Marijuana Dispensaries [report online]. Sacramento, CA: California Police Chief’s Assn (Archived at http://www.webcitation.org/6cyAkuGoi). California Police Chief’s Association Task Force on Marijuana Dispensaries. (2009). White Paper on Marijuana Dispensaries [report online]. Sacramento, CA: California Police Chief’s Assn (Archived at http://​www.​webcitation.​org/​6cyAkuGoi).
Zurück zum Zitat Carlin, B. P., & Louis, T. A. (2004). Bayes and empirical Bayes methods for data analysis (2nd ed.). New York: Chapman & Hall. Carlin, B. P., & Louis, T. A. (2004). Bayes and empirical Bayes methods for data analysis (2nd ed.). New York: Chapman & Hall.
Zurück zum Zitat Cohen, L., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44, 588–608.CrossRef Cohen, L., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44, 588–608.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Geolytics, Inc. (2015). Estimates premium. East Brunswick, NJ: Geolytics Inc. Geolytics, Inc. (2015). Estimates premium. East Brunswick, NJ: Geolytics Inc.
Zurück zum Zitat Glensor, R. W., & Peak, K. (2004). Crimes against Tourists. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Glensor, R. W., & Peak, K. (2004). Crimes against Tourists. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
Zurück zum Zitat Goldstein, P. J. (1998). Drugs, violence, and federal funding: A research odyssey. Substance Use and Misuse, 33, 1915–1936.CrossRefPubMed Goldstein, P. J. (1998). Drugs, violence, and federal funding: A research odyssey. Substance Use and Misuse, 33, 1915–1936.CrossRefPubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Jean, P. K. S. (2008). Pockets of crime: Broken windows, collective efficacy, and the criminal point of view. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Jean, P. K. S. (2008). Pockets of crime: Broken windows, collective efficacy, and the criminal point of view. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Kepple, N. J., & Freisthler, B. (2012). Exploring the ecological association between crime and medical marijuana dispensaries. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 73, 523–530.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Kepple, N. J., & Freisthler, B. (2012). Exploring the ecological association between crime and medical marijuana dispensaries. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 73, 523–530.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Zurück zum Zitat Lunn, D. J., Thomas, A., Best, N., & Spiegelhalter, D. (2000). WinBUGS—A Bayesian modelling framework: Concepts, structure, and extensibility. Statistics and Computing, 10, 325–337. doi:10.1023/A:1008929526011.CrossRef Lunn, D. J., Thomas, A., Best, N., & Spiegelhalter, D. (2000). WinBUGS—A Bayesian modelling framework: Concepts, structure, and extensibility. Statistics and Computing, 10, 325–337. doi:10.​1023/​A:​1008929526011.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Pacula, R. L., Powell, D., Heaton, P., & Sevigny, E. L. (2015). Assessing the effects of medical marijuana laws on marijuana and alcohol use: The devil is in the details. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 34(1), 7–31. doi:10.1002/pam.21804.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Pacula, R. L., Powell, D., Heaton, P., & Sevigny, E. L. (2015). Assessing the effects of medical marijuana laws on marijuana and alcohol use: The devil is in the details. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 34(1), 7–31. doi:10.​1002/​pam.​21804.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Zurück zum Zitat Tita, G., & Griffiths, E. (2005). Traveling to violence: The case for a mobility-based spatial typology of homicide. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 42, 275–308. doi:10.1177/0022427804270051.CrossRef Tita, G., & Griffiths, E. (2005). Traveling to violence: The case for a mobility-based spatial typology of homicide. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 42, 275–308. doi:10.​1177/​0022427804270051​.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Waller, L. A., & Gotway, C. A. (2004). Applied spatial statistics for Public Health. New York, NY: John Wiley.CrossRef Waller, L. A., & Gotway, C. A. (2004). Applied spatial statistics for Public Health. New York, NY: John Wiley.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wright, R. T., & Decker, S. H. (2011). Armed robbers in action: Stickups and street culture. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England. Wright, R. T., & Decker, S. H. (2011). Armed robbers in action: Stickups and street culture. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England.
Metadaten
Titel
From Medical to Recreational Marijuana Sales: Marijuana Outlets and Crime in an Era of Changing Marijuana Legislation
verfasst von
Bridget Freisthler
Andrew Gaidus
Christina Tam
William R. Ponicki
Paul J. Gruenewald
Publikationsdatum
27.04.2017
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Prevention / Ausgabe 3/2017
Print ISSN: 2731-5533
Elektronische ISSN: 2731-5541
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-017-0472-9

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 3/2017

The Journal of Primary Prevention 3/2017 Zur Ausgabe