Cannabis in the capital: exploring the spatial association between medical marijuana dispensaries and crime. Issue 1 (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zakrzewski, William J.; Wheeler, Andrew P.; Thompson, Andrew J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of crime and justice. Volume 43:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: Micro places -- crime -- propensity score matching -- medical marijuana dispensaries; Crime -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Criminal psychology -- Periodicals; Crime -- United States -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; Police -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1080/0735648X.2019.1582351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-648X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The legalization of medical marijuana remains a controversial policy. An important dimension of marijuana legalization is the siting of dispensaries and their influence on a surrounding community. Specifically, dispensaries, if they engender criminogenic opportunities via changes in routine activities, have the potential to increase crimes in the areas surrounding medicinal marijuana dispensaries (MMDs). Using a quasi-experimental design, we examine the relationship between MMDs and crime using micro-spatial units in a novel location. Street level geocoded crime data for violent and nonviolent crime patterns before and after the opening of MMD's in Washington, D.C. Crime is analyzed with 100 m buffers around each dispensary and control location drawn from propensity score matching. Differences between crime rates pre- and postoperation are compared. With the exception of one location, crime decreased or remained constant in geographical areas following the opening of a dispensary. MMDs do not appear to have an immediate criminogenic effect. Implications for future research regarding potential confounding factors and data limitations are discussed.