An Analysis of the Effect Recreational Cannabis Legalization has had on Crime per Capita by Race, Age, and Sex

Abstract

The War on Drugs declared in 1971 targeted young, black and brown men, looping them into alarming incarceration rates. Around half of all drug-related crimes in recent years were cannabis-related. With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis, this paper aims to understand if the policy change has had an impact in evening out the disproportionate arrest rates of young black and brown men for cannabis-related crimes. Using the American Community Survey and the Uniform Crime Reporting Program Data, this paper analyzes arrests by demographic both immediately before and after the legalization of recreational cannabis to understand the effect the policy change has had. Results reveal that ultimately, the policy change has not had an effect on these disproportionate arrest rates.