Crime Still Isn't Devouring Denver 4 Months After Legal Pot

[RainDog]

It's a given that correlation isn't causation - but the reality from data indicates law enforcement predictions to expect more crime has not proved true - EVEN as businesses had to keep large amounts of cash on hand because they had no access to banking services. This would be, imo, the biggest enticement to crime with the change in laws.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/13/marijuana-crime-denver_n_5319298.html

Four months after recreational marijuana sales were legalized in Denver, crime still hasn't gone up, according to the city's latest data.

Overall violent crime in Denver for the four-month period that includes January to April fell 5.6 percent from the same period a year earlier. Crime is down in the four main categories of violent crime -- homicide, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crime dropped 11.4 percent from the first four months of 2013.

The crime data stands in stark contrast to statements made by law enforcers in 2012, before Amendment 64 legalized marijuana in Colorado for recreational sale and use. Multiple members of the state's law enforcement community warned legalization would bring bleak and "harmful" consequences. “Expect more crime, more kids using marijuana and pot for sale everywhere," Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver said in a 2012 statement . "I think our entire state will pay the price."

Denver's crime statistics during the first four months of retail marijuana reflect findings from a recent report published in the peer-reviewed PLOS ONE journal showing that legalizing medical marijuana causes no increase in crime, and may reduce some violent crime, including homicide.

[RainDog]

1. evening kick n/t

[hobbit709]

2. "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

[RainDog]

3. if this keeps up

combined with this thread about the way the legal states are harming the cartels

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11702043

some people might have to find work that doesn't depend upon creating a criminal class simply because of laws.

...actually, I don't think that will be the reality - I think the cartels will (and are already) putting their energies into other illegal activities.

I would like to see some stats to see if alcohol use is the same, down, or higher in Denver.

[Strelnikov_]

5. "Republican Party aligned with Drug Cartels regarding legalization" n/t

[RainDog]

7. yep

Republicans will lose one of their chief ways to imprison African Americans in the 20th and 21st century... they're like "pre-civil war enactors" in their dedication to this Jim Crow drug war.

[Strelnikov_]

4. Dope will get you through times of no money

better than money will get you through times of no dope.

[Fumesucker]

6. Our cunning plan is working splendidly, Natasha

Soon we will accomplice the glorious revolution when all the Americanskis are too altitude to fight. Moose and squirrel will be baked.

[RainDog]

8. Baked Alaska

on the election menu for November.

And you know what Palin can see from her home...

[IronLionZion]

9. I'm hoping it will decrease crime

since legalizing it takes out some of the riff raff and related thuggish behavior involved in illegal stuff.

[RainDog]

10. If people switch from alcohol to cannabis

we might see reductions in crimes that are typically associated with alcohol but not cannabis - domestic abuse, fights in general, traffic accidents (mj users typically adjust/become more cautious while someone intoxicated from alcohol generally overestimates their competence.)

but who knows.

mostly, I'm glad to see the predictions of reefer madness aren't playing out.

[devils chaplain]

11. Watch out, the stoners are going to put down the Cheetos and start mugging people any minute now n/t