The Effect of Cannabis Liberalization Policies on Crime: A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Substance-Use and Mental Health

Abstract

As of March 2022, 38 US states have enacted medical cannabis laws authorizing use for qualifying health conditions, and 19 states have additionally passed recreational cannabis laws legalizing adult use and, in most states, retail sales. A growing body of research has examined the association between these shifts in cannabis policy and crime. Some studies have examined the effects of these policies on crime at the macro and micro levels. The results of existing literature are mixed, depending on factors such as the policy (medical versus recreational), time (early adopters vs later adopters), crime type, and others. We systematically review and meta-analyze 33 quasi-experimental studies on this relationship. We will abstract effect size and moderator data from these studies to estimate random effects and meta-regression models to understand effect heterogeneity of policy design/implementation, target populations, and quality of statistical design. Preliminary analyses indicate the enactment of state cannabis policies has reduced crime. Important heterogeneity in outcomes will also be explored.

Authors

• Eric Sevigny, Georgia State University

• Danye Medhin, Georgia State University

• Jared Greathouse, Georgia State University