IS LEGAL POT CRIPPLING MEXICAN DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANISATIONS? THE EFFECT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS ON US CRIME

IS LEGAL POT CRIPPLING MEXICAN DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANISATIONS? THE EFFECT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS ON US CRIME

We show that the introduction of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) leads to a decrease in violent crime in states that border Mexico. The reduction in crime is strongest for counties close to the border (less than 350 kilometres) and for crimes that relate to drug trafficking. In addition, we find that...

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Veröffentlicht in:The Economic journal (London) 2019-01, Vol.129 (617), p.375-407
Hauptverfasser: Gavrilova, Evelina, Kamada, Takuma, Zoutman, Floris
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Borders
Cannabis
Drogenkonsum
Drug legalization
Drug trafficking
Economic theory
Kriminalpolitik
Legalization
Marijuana
Markets
Medical marijuana
Medizinische Behandlung
Mexikanisch
USA
Violent crime
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Zusammenfassung:We show that the introduction of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) leads to a decrease in violent crime in states that border Mexico. The reduction in crime is strongest for counties close to the border (less than 350 kilometres) and for crimes that relate to drug trafficking. In addition, we find that MMLs in inland states lead to a reduction in crime in the nearest border state. Our results are consistent with the theory that decriminalisation of the production and distribution of marijuana leads to a reduction in violent crime in markets that are traditionally controlled by Mexican drug trafficking organisations.
ISSN:0013-0133
1468-0297
DOI:10.1111/ecoj.12521